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What the Ef?! is the podcast that says out loud what everyone else with epilepsy is thinking: WTF is happening right now?! Hosted by Landis Wiedner, this show unpacks the unfiltered, often hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking realities of life with epilepsy. Each week, Landis brings together neurologists, advocates, celebrities, caregivers, and everyday people to share raw stories, expert insights, and those “you-can’t-make-this-up” epilepsy moments no one talks about—but everyone should.
It’s equal parts education, community, and comic relief. Whether you’re living with seizures, supporting someone who is, or just curious to learn more, this show creates an approachable, stigma-busting space where laughter and real talk fuel change.
⚡ Epilepsy • Seizures • Awareness • Advocacy • WTF moments ⚡
Special thanks to SK Life Science and Neurelis for sponsoring 2024 and supporting conversations that matter.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing shared here should be taken as medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
72 Episodes
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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 is transforming the future of epilepsy care.Follow the podcast on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!Learn more about Dr. Lam's research here: www.lgsresearch.orgThanks for ALL the hugs from our community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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, Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! We get to stay in the race because of y’all! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 & follow on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for extra clips and community convos!Big thanks to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND sponsors Neurelis and SK life science for keeping this community going strong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 people with epilepsy come together, voices get louder, walls come down, and real change starts.And don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for clips, behind-the-scenes, and more.Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, & Epilepsy Alliance AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Thank you for believing in this podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 actually do to support employees with medical conditions.Follow @whattheefpodcast on Instagram for more epilepsy content!Shout out to community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America, Danny Did Foundation, and Epilepsy Alliance America AND our sponsors Neurelis and SK life science! Appreciate you for believing in this podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 you there.Whether you live with epilepsy, care for someone who does, or work in the field—you’re invited to join us at the Otherside Lounge, September 4–6, 2025. Let’s make sure our voices are not just heard—but connected. Shout out to Community Partners Epilepsy Foundation of America & Danny Did Foundation and sponsors SK life science & Neurelis for making convos like this possible! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Fund, which provided the seed funding for this research, joins us to explain why this matters and what you can do to help.Donate to Lily's Fund: https://lilysfund.org/give/Ask your reps to restore NIH funding: https://5calls.org/issue/nih-nsf-funding-cuts/Shout out to Community Partners Epilepsy Foundation of America & the Danny Did Foundation and sponsors Neurelis & SK life science for making convos like this possible! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Danny Did Foundation as well as sponsors Neurelis and SK life science!The Faces of Medicaid - a story by Sarah Carlson: https://www.channel3000.com/video/the-faces-of-medicaid/video_411e072c-ecd8-57c0-ae07-e3838913f8df.htmlAthletic support for people with disabilities: https://www.achillesinternational.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 strategies Paige used to reclaim her life and her sense of self.Check out Paige's Insa: @changewithpaigeShout out to these folks for making convos like this possible! Community partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Danny Did Foundation and sponsors Neurelis and SK life science Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 legislation.In this episode we talk about the blurred lines between privacy and shame. And how one daughter’s courage inspired her mother to help break a generational silence.Shout out to Community Partners Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Danny Did Foundation as well as sponsors SK life science and Neurelis! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Live from the National Epilepsy Walk in D.C., Landis Wiedner and Miles Levin hit the National Mall with one big question: What do you wish more people knew about epilepsy? The answers were real, raw, and sometimes even funny!What do YOU wish more people understood? Comment below and join the conversation!Thank you Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation of America and sponsors Neurelis and SK life science for making convos like this possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
JP Severin thought his epilepsy was controlled—until his seizures decided to make a comeback right in the middle of his career and dad life. JP shares what it’s like when your kids witness your seizures, the emotional aftermath, and the challenge of accepting what’s beyond his control.With humor and heart, JP dives into the weird wisdom seizuresbring, and how life’s unpredictability can reshape perspective on gratitude and empathy.Thank you to our Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation of America and Sponsors Neurelis and SK life science for making conversations like this possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When Nancy Iida’s son went off to college, she had to face a hard truth: she couldn’t control his seizures. That lesson deepened when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer and she herself battled Lyme disease.Through it all, Nancy turned to art as a way to create peace in a life filled with uncertainty. In this episode, she shares how she’s learned to let go, find balance, and embrace the practice of resilience and laughter. Check out Henry's Heroes Foundation: https://henrysheroesfoundation.org/Thank you to our Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation of America and Sponsors SK life science and Neurelis for supporting peace in the epilepsy world! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
So, what's it like being married to someone with epilepsy? Steve and I get real about our relationship—how we met, the challenges we’ve faced, and the moments that make it all worth it. From seizure depression to the Kid Decision (to have kids or not?), and yes, even who gets the last French fry, we’re sharing it all.Appreciate these folks giving this podcast their "I do's": Epilepsy Foundation of America, Neurelis, and SK life science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What happens when your epilepsy meds turn against you? Mere Davis found out the hard (and very painful) way. On her way to an epilepsy walk, a bad case of medication toxicity caused her to pass out, faceplant on the sidewalk, and start a long journey of medical treatment.In this episode, Mere shares her story with wit and wisdom, breaking down what medication toxicity is, how to avoid it, and why you should always watch your step (literally).A big shoutout to our Community Partner the Epilepsy Foundation of America and Sponsors SK life science andNeurelis for keeping the lights on and the mics hot so we can have important convos like this one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ever felt dismissed by a doctor? Author Ilana Jacqueline gets it. In this episode, she shares what medical gaslighting is, how to spot it, and *three game-changing tips* to stand your ground in the doctor’s office. She opens up about her own medical journey and how it led her to become a self-advocacy pro. If you’ve ever struggled to feel heard in the doc’s office, tune into this convo and order Ilana’s book “Medical Gaslighting” for even more guidance. Thank you to our Community Partner, Epilepsy Foundation of America, and Sponsors SK life science and Neurelis for making conversations like this possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When Dr. Amee Shah’s epilepsy, long under control, returned, she faced a tough question: should she share her story? After keeping seizures a secret her whole life, she chose to open up. While many people were supportive, others were not – even requesting Amee to take down social media posts about her epilepsy. Instead of letting that hold her back, Amee turned it into fuel for advocacy, becoming a public voice for epilepsy awareness. In this episode, she shares the cultural challenges of being vulnerable and the power of owning your story.Learn more about seizure pillows that we talk about in this episode here: https://www.dannydid.org/selecting-a-device/Thank you to our Community Partner, the Epilepsy Foundation of America, and Sponsors SK life science and Neurelis for standing up to stigma with us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do you turn epilepsy into a motivator for growth and success? Justice Bartley, a former NBA player development coach, takes us courtside to share his journey from high school basketball to the NBA coaching staff—all while navigating life with epilepsy. Hear how Justice found the right support, embraced accountability, and transformed challenges into life lessons. Plus, a sneak peek at his stealth startup and his mission to empower athletes with epilepsy with the 1in26 Athlete Foundation. Thank you to our Community Partner Epilepsy Foundation and Sponsors SK life science and Neurelis for making slam dunk convos like this possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Thank you for keeping it real! I'm excited to hear what's to come!