"Talk About It!" with Greg Grunberg

He's not going the wrong way, he's just going HIS way! In this episode of Talk About It, Greg sits down in studio with Loren Zitomersky - A.K.A. the "Backwards Guy." Loren has gained a ton of publicity over the years for attempting to break the world record for fastest marathon run backwards, and he does it all in the name of raising awareness for epilepsy! Before he was born, Loren's dad had a son who tragically died due to SUDEP, so he has devoted his athletic life to his brother's memory. Collectively, he has done over 80 interviews or televised segments with Inside Edition, the Boston Globe, Runner's World, the Associated Press, as well as various local and international news outlets, and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for epilepsy research! In addition to being Backwards Guy, he also runs a very popular social media channel called The Legal Beef. From his exdperience as a corporate lawyer, Loren is now harnessing his knowledge and expertise to provide the public with legal breakdowns and advice from viral social media clips. Naturally, his passion for epilepsy advocacy was eventually going to find its way into this venture, so we are so excited to be partnering with Loren on a series of short videos he produces for Talk About It on caregivers and epilepsy-related legal questions! Go to our website at TalkAboutIt.org to find those short clips. Know your rights, and also know that when you feel like you are going backwards sometimes, you're still moving forwards in the big picture. Talk About It with Greg Grunberg is excited to be sponsored by Neurelis and by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

She sings! She acts! She hosts the epilepsy walk! She is a WARRIOR! This week on Talk About It, Greg sits down with a guest who is SO overdue for an interview that we can't believe she hasn't been on yet! Audrey Kaller is a singer and an actress who is racking up quite an impressive stretch in her young career with a brand new single, "Mood Swing Lover" coming out alongside a great performance on ABC's The Rookie debuting this weekend. What is most impressive, though, is that she is relentless in talking openly about her epilepsy diagnosis, and advocating everywhere she goes for seizure first aid and awareness. Audrey recalls her journey with epilepsy from the age of 13, when she had her first grand mal seizure at her friend's bat mitzvah, and into college when her sorority sisters abandoned her on the front lawn during an episode where she was having multiple seizures that risked her life. Additionally, we hear her brand new single in FULL, and Greg recaps the incredible Walk for Epilepsy that just happened at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, hosted by Audrey! Team Talk About It! was out there and we hear from an inspiring young couple whose infant son was diagnosed with epilepsy. This is a packed episode, and you don't want to miss a minute of it! Talk About It with Greg Grunberg is excited to be sponsored by Neurelis and by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

When life is leaving you with so many questions, especially when you are dealing with an epilepsy diagnosis, sometimes it is good to hear some answers from someone with experience. Good thing we have our in-house expert, Greg Grunberg, to answer the call! Welcome to the final chapter of our two-part series in which Greg answers the top 20 questions that have come from the epilepsy community. While he says he might not have all the answers, he speaks from his heart after nearly 30 years of being a caregiver to his son with epilepsy, and he is here to assure you that it is going to be okay. We don't know what version of okay that might look like, but it certainly be okay. It is not wrong to ask questions, or be frustrated, or have the feeling that you want to give up. The best thing to do when that happens is to... you guessed it... talk about it! In this part 2, Greg takes on questions about making jokes about epilepsy, what to do about treatment not working, SUDEP, protecting a child with epilepsy vs letting them make mistakes or risk danger, and so much more. This is real stuff, these are real feelings, and Greg has the real answers. We would love to hear your perspective. If you have ideas, or agreements, even disagreements with Greg, let us know! Comment, share, and let's keep the conversation going. The first step is ALWAYS to talk about it! Talk About It with Greg Grunberg is excited to be sponsored by Neurelis and by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

Get ready to Talk About It! Or in Greg's case, answer about it! In this two-part series, Greg takes on your 20 most-asked questions and responds from the heart, giving authentic insight from an epilepsy advocate and caregiver. In this part 1, we cover some of the heavy questions that weigh on patients and caregivers, from "why me?" to "what can I do about caregiver burnout?" Social isolation, disagreements among parent caregivers, driving safety, refusal to take meds - these are all things that patients and caregivers have to confront head-on, and Greg is here to provide a steady voice in the conversation for you. We always say on this show, "everybody has something" and remind you that epilepsy doesn't define your life. But that doesn't mean that these questions aren't coming from real emotions and frustrations, or that it is wrong to ask altogether. The first step in finding answers, or at least dealing with the emotions behind the questions, is to talk to other people about it. Greg might not have all the answers, but he certainly speaks from his heart. Give this episode a listen and let us know if you agree or disagree - even disagreements lead to talking about it! Talk About It with Greg Grunberg is excited to be sponsored by Neurelis and by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

We here at Talk About It are so excited about our expansion into helping raise awareness for conditions that are related to epilepsy. One of the conditions at the top of our list is autism spectrum disorder. Did you know that approximately 25-30% of children with ASD will develop epilepsy in their lifetime? But not only are these conditions medically correlated, they also share similarities when it comes to bullying, stigma, job prospects, dating, and everyday life experience. That means, of course, we need to TALK ABOUT IT! Greg sits down in studio with his good friend Holly Robinson Peete, an actress who has lit up our screen since her breakout role in 21 Jump Street in 1987 and has gone on to star in so many of our favorite movies and shows. Together with her husband, former NFL quarterback and Heisman trophy candidate Rodney Peete, they started the HollyRod Foundation to help families battling a Parkinson's diagnosis, but expanded into autism after their eldest son RJ, a twin, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The foundation helps to provide medical, financial, and emotional support for families affected by these conditions. With the guidance and support of his amazing parents, RJ has defied the odds to overcome all of the "nevers" - never saying he loves them, never getting a quality education, never being able to socialize, never being able to hold a job - a stigma that still plagues families dealing with this disorder, and increasingly being mainstreamed by people in power. RJ now is a clubhouse attendant for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and an integral part of their team's family dynamic. Holly and Greg discuss his role on the team, the bullying that their family went through, dating on the spectrum, and the importance of job placement for those with spectrum disorders. This is such a heartwarming episode and you will learn so much! Don't miss it! Talk About It with Greg Grunberg is excited to be sponsored by Neurelis and by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.