Brain or Shine - Shining After Brain Injury
Mark and Jules Kennedy - Brain or Shine
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Brain or Shine is a podcast dedicated to supporting brain injury survivors and their families, friends, and work colleagues. Hosts Mark and Jules Kennedy share their personal story after Mark's holiday accident caused a brain injury that changed their lives. From both perspectives—Mark as the survivor and Jules as the carer—they offer tips and insights into living with the long-term effects of a traumatic injury. The show aims to create a community that helps others understand and cope with life after brain injury.
Afleveringen
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58. Recognising Mental Health Following a Brain Injury 25.05.2026 20minJoin Jules and Mark for this latest episode to find out how to recognise and look after your mental health following a brain injury.Whether you're the survivor of a brain injury, a partner or a family member, prioritising your mental health is extremely important.Brain injury can bring on lots of challenges, including anger, irritability and low mood, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By understanding these and having coping mechanisms in place can help you on a path towards positive mental health.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #brainfocus #TBI #ABI -
57. How to Reduce Stress Following a Brain Injury 27.04.2026 14minIn this latest episode, Jules and Mark explore ways to reduce stress and manage anger following a brain injury.April is Stress Awareness Month but we always feel that creating calm in your life is something that you should practice all year round.Someone recently said, 'I wish the world would slow down a little!'. If we can find ways to slow our lives down and introduce a little extra calm, it will in turn, reduce stress and anger and, ulitmately make your life easier.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #brainfocus #TBI #ABI
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56. Brain Injury Awareness Month & The Hidden Disabilities 11.03.2026 18minIn this latest episode, Jules and Mark recognise Brain Injury Awareness Month and talk more about the hidden side effects that have a devastating impact on the lives of those affected.Having a month dedicated to recognising brain injury is all very good but survivors and their families, friends and work colleagues are affected all year round. Daily struggles are linked to fatigue, memory loss and mood changes for instance.If those around a brain injury survivor have an awareness of these daily challenges, it can ease the stress of coping with them.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #brainfocus #TBI #ABI
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55. Trying to Stay Focused After a Brain Injury 13.02.2026 17minJoin Jules and Mark and they chat about some strategies on how to maintain focus following a brain injury.We know all too well that trying to concentrate is one of the biggest challenges for brain injury survivors. Their attention can be all over the place and they can be easily distracted by a number of things, including noise, clutter and movement. This is known as attention drift.Understanding these struggles and learning some easy techniques may help you to find ways to cope with this daily challenge that survivors face.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #brainfocus #TBI #ABI
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54. Pacing Yourself and Being Patient 14.01.2026 13minAt the time of launching this episode, a new year has just begun and after a major event like Christmas, things can feel a little flat. Jules and Mark explore ways to ease into the new year and set some simple intentions and goals.January can also be a difficult month as winter seems as if it's been around for too long and the dark, cold nights seem to have lost any appeal that they may have had. That can leave you feeling low in mood and perhaps lacking motivation.After the hype of the festive period, there's still a weight of expectation to become the new you, get fit, lose weight and continue to spend money on the next public holiday or event.Reflecting, pacing and planning are essential to taking small steps forward and dealing with the day-to-day challenges of a brain injury.Join the exclusive Brain or Shine Fatigue Hub with specific tools to living with fatigue - https://brainorshine.com/fatiguehub.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #familylife #TBI #ABI
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53. Stay Calm Over the Festive Period 10.12.2025 14minChristmas is just around the corner and, in this episode, Jules and Mark explore ways to make this busy period a little easier and more relaxing.'Tis the season to be jolly', as the saying goes! How do you feel at this time of year? For some it is a wonderful and supposed to be all festive, jolly, sparkling lights and parties, but with a brain injury it can be difficult. There's the planning, organising, preparations and expectations which takes a huge amount of time and energy. The extra pressure can put a strain on you and your loved ones and fatigue can go into over drive and can leave you feeling exhausted even just thinking about it. Planning and pacing is key, as is being honest with yourself and others around you. Seek out and help and support from those around you and build in quiet time to relax so that you can enjoy this time of year.Join the exclusive Brain or Shine Fatigue Hub with specific tools to live with fatigue - https://brainorshine.com/fatiguehub.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #familylife #TBI #ABI
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52. The Difference Between Traumatic Brain Injury and Acquired Brain Injury 12.11.2025 13minIn this episode, Jules and Mark talk about the differences between traumatic brain injuries and acquired brain injuries and how the level of severity may have bigger impacts on a survivor and their families.Just under one million people attend Accident & Emergency with a head injury in the UK alone, and it's estimated that around 1.3 million people are living with a TBI. If you add in ABIs and multiply this around the world, that's a lot of people!By having an understanding of the various types of brain injuries and the hidden side effects, it helps those affected to better function and live on a day-to-day basis.Join the exclusive Brain or Shine Fatigue Hub with specific tools to live with fatigue - https://brainorshine.com/fatiguehub.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #familylife #TBI #ABI
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51. Role Changes Following a Brain Injury 13.10.2025 16minJoin Jules and Mark as they discuss how roles in a relationship, at home and work, can change following a brain injury.From managing the finances to doing the shopping or driving to preparing meals, a brain injury survivor may struggle to carry out tasks they once did without much effort or even a passing thought.Role changes are common but they can put extra pressure on relationships and also lead to a loss of confidence and self-esteem for the survivor.There is no shame in asking for help or offering it to a loved one if they're struggling. Communication and understanding is key to moving forward.Join the exclusive Brain or Shine Fatigue Hub with specific tools to live with fatigue - https://brainorshine.com/fatiguehub.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#rolechanges #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #familylife
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50. How a Brain Injury Changed Our Lives 22.09.2025 33minWelcome! Here is a recording of our September 2025 Webinar.It's quite normal to assume that once a brain injury survivor comes home from hospital, everything will get back to normal, but more often than not, the effects can become more noticeable and problematic once they are home.The partner usually is the one who notices these first, and informing the survivor can be difficult, mostly because they cannot see or understand the changes. Adjusting to these changes can be difficult for both the survivor and the partner.In this webinar , we were joined by Jennifer Godber of Coventry University. Jenny is a former occupational therapist and now PhD student who has been developing a programme to support partners, focusing on intimate relationships after brain injury.Here is the edited recording where we talked about the hidden disabilities and the pressure they put on your relationship.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities
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49. How Brain Injury Can Impact Your Relationships 09.09.2025 17minIn this latest episode, Jules and Mark share some insights into how a brain injury can impact relationships and home life.Jules said, 'Sadly, us partners can be hugely affected when a brain injury is sustained and it’s terribly frightening when they are in hospital and you’re not sure what’s going on.Unfortunately, most of what we have learned about the recovery process and the hidden disabilities your partner can be left with has come a long time after his accident. 'Also, Brain or Shine is pleased to announce the launch of their brand new Fatigue Hub which you can join by going to https://brainorshine.com/fatiguehub.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #judgeandjury
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48. Cognitive Difficulties Following a Brain Injury | August 2025 Webinar 25.08.2025 32minIn this latest episode, Jules and Mark introduce a new fuction on this podcast and share a recording of the August 2025 webinar talking about day-to-day challenges within the brain injury community.Processing is how we take in, make sense of, and respond to information. After a brain injury, damage to nerve cells can slow or disrupt this, making even everyday tasks difficult. This can affect:Understanding conversations or written infoFollowing a film or storylineReading situations around youIt’s not about lacking intelligence; it’s about the brain's ability to keep up. For people like Mark who are high-functioning, this hidden challenge can be hard to explain and even harder for others to understand.Tasks like driving or even crossing the road become complex when your brain can't quickly process what it sees and hears. Everyone’s experience is different, but awareness helps make life a little easier.Also, Brain or Shine are pleased to announce the launch of their brand new Fatigue Hub. You can join it by going to https://brainorshine.com/fatiguehub.Going forward, the regular audio podcast will be monthly (instead of every two weeks) and we will share the video recording of each monthly webinar. Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channelJoin the Fatigue Hub#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #judgeandjury
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47. Using Executive Functions After Brain Injury 13.08.2025 12minJoin Jules and Mark in this latest episode as they talk about the challenges using executive functions following a brain injury.Executive functions include using your reasoning skills, problem-solving and control over emotional impulses. This can also have a huge impact on your motivation, ability to plan and organise things as well as carrying out simple steps and, of course, your memory.Also, Brain or Shine are pleased to announce the launch of their brand new Fatigue Hub, going live in August 2025. You can join it by going to https://brainorshine.com/fatiguehub.That means that the regular podcast content will be once a month instead of every two weeks. There will be lots of new tools and content on how to live with fatigue to replace the extra episode. Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #judgeandjury
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46. The Simple Things Aren't So Simple Following Brain Injury 30.07.2025 13minIn this latest episode, Jules and Mark chat about some of the things that are no longer as straightforward following Mark's brain injury.It's not always the big things that hidden disabilities affect, it's day-to-day things like shopping, both in store and online, driving short distances and even making a smoothie. These affect both the survivor and their family and friends, sadly. Recognising these challenges helps you make a plan to move forward.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #judgeandjury
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45. I Can't Remember - Memory Issues Following Brain Injury 16.07.2025 12minShort-term memory issues are a challenge that Jules and Mark experience on a daily basis following Mark's brain injury. Here, they share tools and tips to help ease some of the frustrations it causes through your dya-to-day life.Sometimes, it can be the little things forgotten that can cause the biggest frustrations too. It's not always about a major event or task, but small conversations or processes on a daily basis.Using tools like mobile phone reminders, notes and keeping things in the same places are just some ideas to help you remember things that you need to do each day.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #judgeandjury
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44. How to Manage and Control Emotions 02.07.2025 12minJoin Jules and Mark as they share tools on how they get a grip on unpredictable emotions following brain injury.In the previous episode, the theme was around challenging negative thoughts. We're going to take this a step further by using the judge and jury technique in order to remove some unnecessary worry and anxiety.Over 90% of the negative things we worry about don't actually happen. If we can create some perspective on these worries, it will help us to have a calmer and more productive day.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities #judgeandjury
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43. Challenging Negative Thoughts Following Brain Injury 18.06.2025 12minPositive mindsets have been key to Jules and Mark in the world of brain injury. Find out how they challenge negative thoughts and focus on how to overcome daily challenges.Emotions can be seriously affected following a brain injury and it can be all too easy to feel hopeless, helpless and useless.The language you use can become negative with phrases like, 'I'm not very good', 'I'm a failure' or 'I can't do that any more'.The more we say negative things, the more our minds will believe that those statements are true.By challenging those thoughts and changing the negative language to positive will not only boost self-esteem but it will help you to move forward in daily life.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities
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42. How to Calm Anxiety Following a Brain Injury 04.06.2025 11minIn this latest episode, Jules and Mark talk about the effects a brain injury has on emotions and share some tools on how to calm them and manage anxiety.Sadly, following any form of brain injury, a survivor may experience some changes to their emotional processing and responses. The mood can go from calm to angry, anxious, upset, frustrated or helpless, just like that.By taking a moment to stop and assess the situation and recognise the triggers, this will help to manage those emotions and prevent things like high anxiety.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#managingemotions #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities
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41. Setting Boundaries Following a Brain Injury 20.05.2025 10minJoin Jules and Mark as they share how setting boundaries has been a game changer in the day-to-day living with brain injury.There are two types of boundaries: those you set with others and those you set with yourself.By helping others to understand your limitations means that they have a better chance of accepting that you're unable to do everything or that you may need to leave the room for a rest from time to time.Likewise, setting boundaries with your own daily and weekly tasks and events helps to avoid pushing too far and crashing to the dreaded fatigue.Visit our website, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us on Instagram @brain_or_shineJoin our Facebook CommunitySubscribe to our YouTube channel#braininjuryboundaries #braininjurysupport #brainorshine #shiningafterbraininjury #hiddendisabilities
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40. Personal Health & Well-being Tools After Brain Injury 07.05.2025 11minIn this episode, Jules and Mark talk about the importance of working on personal health and well-being following Mark's brain injury.This is paramount whether you have a brain injury or are the carer of a survivor. The main key components are self-care are sleep, hydration, exercise and diet. By following a simple acronym, SHED, can help you to function and live well following a brain injury.Visit ourwebsite, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us onInstagram @brain_or_shineJoin ourFacebook CommunitySubscribe to ourYouTube channel
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39. Behavioural and Speech Difficulties Following Brain Injury 23.04.2025 14minIn this episode, Jules and Mark share their lived experiences of how behavioural and speech difficulties have challenged them following Mark's brain injury.Emotions and behaviours are closely linked and, sometimes, after sustaining a brain injury, these can be hard to control.Aphasia is one of the many conditions that affects speech and is prevalent among brain injury survivors. This can also lead to frustration, anger and loss of confidence, which in turn can affect emotions. It can be a never-ending loop.By gaining an understanding and acceptance, it can really help survivors and their families move forward and cope with these challenges.Don't forget to listen to the previous episode, which covered two other major factors, cognitive and emotional difficulties. These are also strongly linked.Visit ourwebsite, https://brainorshine.com for more tools.Follow us onInstagram @brain_or_shineJoin ourFacebook CommunitySubscribe to ourYouTube channel
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