Episode Details

David welcomes Natalie Boehm, founder of the Defeating Epilepsy Foundation. Boehm shares her epilepsy history beginning at age two after a traumatic brain injury, the long-term effects of medications (brain fog, fatigue, mood changes), and how stigma led her to hide her condition before turning to advocacy. The conversation highlights the overlap between epilepsy and autism, noting that about one-third of people with autism have epilepsy, and emphasizes how seizures are only one part of a broader medical, mental health, and quality-of-life puzzle affecting caregivers too. Boehm explains seizure types and basic first aid, discusses misinterpretation of complex partial seizures by law enforcement, and describes emerging technologies and devices for diagnosis and seizure control. She outlines her foundation’s work, including scholarships and seizure dog grants, and stresses caregiver self-care.

Topics

00:46 Why Epilepsy Matters

01:40 Meet Natalie Boehm

03:00 Living With Epilepsy

04:44 Autism Epilepsy Overlap

08:02 Brain Fog And Coping

11:54 Non Speaking Misread

15:15 Schools And Stigma

18:14 Seizure Types Explained

20:47 Seizure First Aid

22:57 Auras And Warning Signs

27:05 New Therapies And Control

31:07 Genetics And No Cure

33:57 Diagnosis And New Tools

35:32 Seizure Tech Breakthroughs

37:41 Medication Fatigue And Caffeine

39:17 Why She Started The Foundation

42:06 Advocacy Story Saving A Life

45:02 Independence Versus Safety

48:10 Animals Sensing Seizures

50:23 Scholarships And Future Vision

53:42 Caregiver Tip Avoid Burnout

56:44 Epilepsy Facts And Myths

57:58 Stigma Funding And Healthcare

01:05:44 How To Help And Contact Info

01:06:47 Closing Thanks And Next Steps