On A Good Day is the podcast delving into brain injury and its impact on all involved. Hosted by Elizabeth Callaghan and Julia Ajayi, our lives changed forever after our husbands suffered a brain injury. It also had a ripple effect on others in our wider family and community. We’ll be sharing our experiences to help others feel more connected, get inspiring stories from people affected by brain injury and learn more about the condition from our specialist guests. Expect honest conversations ...
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The Big Travel Podcast: Exploring Life-Stories Through Travel. Taking you on a journey of discovery, with a wonderfully diverse selection of characters, The Big Travel Podcast explores life-stories in travel; from childhoods with little money but a spirit for exploration to fabulous tales of exotic climes and incredible adventures. Celebrities, authors, sports people, politicians, famous faces from TV, radio, music, stage and screen, SAS soldiers, adventurers and ordinary people taking extra ...
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#46 What to you do if you get injured abroad - with Nathaniel Martindale and James Riley, Irwin Mitchell
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36:35Having a serious illness such as a stroke or brain injury is a terrifying and life-changing experience but it can be even more frightening when it is experienced it while living or travelling abroad? In this episode, you will find out the best ways to help protect yourself to help safeguard you against huge medical fees and the importance of travel…
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#45 Balancing a Busy Life and Brain Injury - with Julia Ajayi and Elizabeth Callaghan
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40:43Life is busy. We all seem to be living increasingly hectic lives and when you add in brain injury, it can be even more overwhelming. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia open up about their challenges as they try to balance life, work, children, managing a house and a husband with a brain injury. With searing honesty, the two hosts talk about manag…
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#44 How To Navigate Changing Financial Situations and Responsibilities - with Money and Wellness Coach Fleur Iannazzo
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1:00:11What are your emotions around money? How can you navigate changes in your financial situation when faced with a life changing circumstance such as brain injury? In this episode of On A Good Day, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by money coach and author Fleur Iannazzo to get an insight into our behaviours around money and how to recognise and work on…
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#43 How Does a Neurosurgeon Help Fix The Brain? - with Neurosurgeon Kevin Tsang
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44:30It's often perceived as one of the toughest jobs in medicine, but what does a day in the life of a neurosurgeon look like and how is it set to change over the next ten years? In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia speak to Kevin Tsang, a neurosurgeon working at Queen Mary and Charing Cross hospitals in London. He talks to them about some of the diffi…
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#42 Progress Over Perfection: How to Kickstart 2025 - with Life Coach Kim Stokes
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59:12How would you like your 2025 to look? What small steps could you take to make progress? And what are the key areas you would like to focus on? It's the start of a new year and the time when people reflect on the past year and look ahead to future plans and progressing in life. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by life coach Kim Stokes…
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#41 Vulnerability, identity and The Traitors - with Traitors star Andrew Jenkins
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1:06:11He was one of the most popular contestants on BBC series The Traitors but Andrew Jenkins reveals he hated himself for a long time after a life-changing car accident left him changed physically and he sustained a brain injury. In this episode, he talks to Elizabeth and Julia about how the impact of the crash, his recovery and how the physical scars …
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#40 The Former Stuntman Rewriting His Story After Brain Injury - with Joe Watts
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48:53Joe Watts was a successful stuntman working on films such as Mission Impossible and the Star Wars franchises when it abruptly ended after a stunt went horribly wrong. Joe fell 25ft onto concrete and was left with a severe brain injury, ending the career he so loved. In this episode, Joe opens up to Elizabeth and Julia about what happened on the day…
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#39 The Changing World of Loving Someone After Acquired Brain Injury - Elizabeth Callaghan, Julia Ajayi and Able To Care podcast host Andy Baker
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53:14Brain injury changes lives in an instant and not only for the survivor but those closest to them. In this episode of On A Good Day, Elizabeth and Julia share an episode from the Able To Care podcast which they were invited on to talk about their experiences as a carers. Hosted by Andy Baker, they talk to him about their personal journeys and how th…
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#38 How Can Independence Be Achieved After Brain Injury? - with Special Guests From Independence Day Brain Injury Conference Hosted By Irwin Mitchell
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32:12Becoming independent is one of the most important things brain injury survivors strive for - but how can independence be achieved? In this special episode, Elizabeth and Julia go on the road to a Brain Injury Conference and speak to some of the speakers and those in attendance about how they are helping support brain injury survivors and some of th…
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#37 Brain Injury Progress In One Year - With Survivors Paul Callaghan and Hector Ajayi
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37:15How much progress can brain injury survivors make over time? It has been six years since Paul had his brain injury, and nearly 15 years for Hector, and despite that, they both identify things that they feel have improved for them over the last year. In this episode, they join Elizabeth and Julia (their wife's) to talk about the progress they have m…
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164. In Madrid with Simon Hunter; Madrid Newsrooms, Old Sherry Bars and Benidorm Sun Lounger Wars
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48:15Picture the scene... Lisa and Simon Hunter (Madrid based journalist) are in the centre of Madrid at the fabulous Ocean Drive Hotel with a balcony over- looking over the Opera square having a chat about politics, celebs, nightclubs, tapas and more before heading up to the rooftop pool for a Vermouth...On this episode we talk..the short trip that tur…
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#36 What Benefits Could You Be Entitled To After Brain Injury? - Benefits Advisor Alice Hamilton, Citizens Advice
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40:19What benefits could you claim after you've had brain injury or are a carer? The system in England and Wales can be mind-boggling, especially if it's your first experience of applying for benefits. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia speak to Alice Hamilton from Citizens Advice to get her insight into what financial help the government can provide.…
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#35 Living With Locked In Syndrome, a Daughter's Story - Georgie Tyler-Collings
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1:02:02What is locked-in syndrome? How does it affect someone? Locked-in syndrome might be a condition you have heard of - but may not know much about. This episode will help you understand more about locked-in syndrome and what it is like to live with or support a family member with the condition. To shed a light on the topic, Georgie Tyler-Collings join…
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#34 On A (Not So) Good Day: Our Challenges With Brain Injury - Elizabeth Callaghan and Julia Ajayi
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21:52What's it like to be the partner of a brain injury survivor? The truth is, some days are not so good. There are times which can be challenging, frustrating and upsetting. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia acknowledge the (not so) good days and share with honesty some of the challenges they face living with a brain injury survivor. They share the…
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#33 Managing Mindset To Recover From Brain Injury - with HelloSelf Founder Charlie Wells
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1:00:39What part does mindset play in recovering from brain injury? In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by entrepreneur Charlie Wells. He was running a 5km race, dressed as Santa, when he had subarachnoid haemorrhage, aged 30. He underwent ground-breaking surgery to keep him alive. With sheer determination and a strong mindset, Charlie's recov…
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163. Barbara Buczek; From Poland to Kentucky, Saudi Cruising to Everest Base Camp and The Emotional Tug of Those White Cliffs of Dover
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53:09Barbara Buczek spent ten years in the management team at the Port of Dover but over two years ago moved continents to establish Saudi’s new cruise scene with Cruise Saudi. Born in Poland she felt that travelling at an early age to Kentucky to attend a US high school gave her the travel bug. On this episode we talk about the special relationship wit…
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#32 Facts And Myths Of Epilepsy - with Professor Ley Sander, Neurologist Specialising in Epilepsy
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59:05Epilepsy is a common side effect following brain injury and a condition which affects 600,000 people in the UK. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia speak to Ley Sander, a Professor of Neurology and Clinical Epilepsy and Medical Officer with the Epilepsy Society. Some of the questions we ask include: what is epilepsy? Why do some people get seizure…
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162. Ash Bhardwaj; Walking The Nile, Slipping Down the Himalayas & Exploring Why We Travel
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1:14:33Ash Bhardwaj travel-writer, film-maker & author of the new book Why We Travel is today’s wonderful guest – discussing… the rugby trip to New Zealand that changed his life, walking the Nile with his friend Levison Wood, getting dangerously lost Walking the Himalayas, the magical Sufi festival in the Sudanese desert, the pilgrimage with his father’s …
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#31 Living Life With Hope and Humour After Brain Tumour - with Andy Tudor, Host Of Let's Talk About Brain Tumours
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49:46Andy Tudor thought be might be getting early onset dementia or having a stroke when he was eventually admitted to hospital. When he was told he had a huge 7cm tumour in his brain it was almost a relief, he tells Elizabeth and Julia in this episode released during Brain Tumour awareness month. Seven years ago Andy had life-saving neurosurgery to rem…
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161. Faisal Sheraiff; Saudi-Influencer on Saudi’s Changes, the Old Markets of Riyadh, Dream-Scapes in Alula
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32:38Faisal Sheraiff, influencer and entrepreneur, lives in Saudi Arabia with his fashion designer wife and two children. He was born in the US to a diplomat father and an anthropologist mother and has travelled to 50 countries. We discuss Saudi’s changes and international tourism, living in Jeddah by the sea, beach days, coffee shops, large family gath…
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#30 Claiming Compensation After Brain Injury - with Richard Biggs & Adam Shelverton, Irwin & Mitchell
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45:20Getting legal advice is not usually your first priority after a traumatic brain injury but, as Elizabeth and Julia discover, making that call could help hugely with a person's recovery - and an initial call costs nothing. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia look at the importance of getting specialist legal advice and the difference it can make to…
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160. Hassan Saeed; Maldivian Resorts, Island Culture and the Importance of Loving Your Community
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45:49We’re back for our new season and starting with an extra special episode recorded in the beautiful Maldivian resort of Dhigali where our presenter Lisa recently spent an idyllic week. Who better to give us a real look at life in the Maldives than resort manager Hassan Saeed who, having dropped out of school age 14 and one of 11 siblings, very quick…
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#29 How Can Friends Support Families After Brain Injury? - With Emma Carrington and Helen Gettings
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43:23When someone has a brain injury, families need more support than ever with friends rallying to help at a very difficult time. But what are the best ways friends can help when someone has a brain injury? In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia are joined by their close friends Emma and Helen as they discuss how the friendships helped them in dark days …
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We are happy to announce the imminent arrival of our new season of episodes and as usual we have a few wonderful surprises for you – some on location episiodes from destinations as varied as Copenhagen to the Maldives – some new partners for sponsorship and also a very exciting annoucment as to what Lisa is up to with some travel plans that can als…
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#28 How Family Therapy Can Help After Brain Injury - With Family Therapist & SLT Susie Hayden
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52:06The impact of brain injury on the family is at the centre of this podcast and one of the reasons Elizabeth and Julia started On A Good Day, so they knew the next guest would be a good match. In this episode, they are joined by Susie Hayden, a neuro speech and language therapist with 23 years experience working in the NHS. Specialising in aphasia, S…
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#27 Navigating Parenthood With A Brain Injury - With Allison and Rob Allan
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54:48Navigating parenthood with young children can be a huge challenge for all parents but even more so when you are living with the affects of brain injury. In this episode, Julia and Elizabeth talk to Allison and Rob Allan. The couple had been together for just two years when Allison had a stroke, aged 25, leaving her with some physical and cognitive …
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#26 Life After Brain Injury - with The Brain Tumour Charity
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47:38Elizabeth and Julia talk about their journey with brain injury as guests of the Brain Tumour Charity's podcast, Let's talk about Brain Tumours. In the episode, they open up about their experiences as partners of brain injury survivors, detailing some of the challenges they have faced along the way and the progress made. Co-host of Let's Talk About …
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#25 Resilience & Gratitude After Brain Injury and Loss - with Chevaun Greenhill
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47:17Chevaun Greenhill was still in primary school when her father had his first stroke. Over the years, she helped care for her beloved dad. In this episode, she talks fondly of Barry's persistence to live his life as he had done before - sometimes with hilarious results. As well as the humour, she also tells Elizabeth and Julia about the pain and stru…
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158. The Big Travel Podcast Christmas Special 2023!
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20:56Hello and welcome to The Big Travel Podcast Christmas Special 2023 special…featuring the Casual Birder Podcast’s Suzy Buttress on celebrating the winter solstice in Antartica, Countdown’s Rachel Riley and her husband’s post-Strictly wind down in the blue lagoon in Iceland, musician and writer Nitin Sawhney having a Hallmark picture perfect Christma…
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#24 Twelve Days Of Christmas With Brain Injury - Elizabeth Callaghan and Julia Ajayi
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47:25Christmas can be a very stressful time of year for everyone but for someone with a brain injury and their family it can cause additional pressures. In this episode, Elizabeth and Julia give On A Good Day's 12 days of Christmas with brain injury. They look at aspects of the festive season, sharing their experiences and strategies on how to deal with…
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#23 The 'Catastrophic' Impact Of Brain Injury: How Jenny And Emilia Clarke Are Challenging The Stigma - With SameYou Co-founder Jenny Clarke
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51:09SameYou co-founder Jenny Clarke talks to On A Good Day about the day she found out her actress daughter, Emilia Clarke, suffered a brain injury in her early 20s and the family's "disbelief". Emilia had just finished filming the first season of Game of Thrones, with a starring role as Daenerys Targaryen, when she had her first brain aneurysm. She la…
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#22 'Why My Stroke Was A Blessing' - With The NeuroNerds Co-Host Joe Borges
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50:59Joe Borges tells Elizabeth and Julia how his brain injury gave him a new appreciation for life and why he believes it was a 'blessing' allowing him to have a life "reset". The NeuroNerds co-host divulges his feelings of being lost and 'surviving' rather than living prior to having a brain injury but how he is now able to live a purposeful life. He …
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#21 Welcome To Season 2: Continuing Our Brain Injury Journey
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27:42Elizabeth and Julia return with a second season of On A Good Day raising more questions around brain injury and continuing to seek answers. In this new series, they'll be hearing more about the lived experiences of guests to help them with their mission to raise awareness of the impact of brain injury on all involved. In this episode, they reflect …
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157. Nitin Sawhney CBE; Racism in Kent, India on Horseback, Mandela at Home
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1:03:28Nitin Sawhney’s Kent childhood included regular attacks by racists, but he threw himself into music, joining school friend James Taylor’s band. Flying to India via Kabul aged 8 he found himself a child mascot riding horseback through the streets, he felt liberated by Liverpool at university, he studied accountancy but ending up creating a hit comed…
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#20 Acceptance, Positive Risk Taking: Our Highlights Of Season 1 - With Elizabeth Callaghan and Julia Ajayi
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26:35As season one of On A Good Day comes to a close, Elizabeth and Julia look back at some of their highlights and how the podcast has positively impacted them. Julia reveals how listening to episode 3 on positive risk helped shape her decision to take a family trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar. While Elizabeth reflects on the episode when she spoke about …
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156. Motoring Journalist Ben Oliver; Belfast Troubles, Braving An Open Top Bentley To The Arctic Circle, Manoeuvring A Mini Up the Himalayas in Monsoon
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48:49Motoring journalist Ben Oliver was born amid the troubles in Belfast with the family moving to ‘slightly dull Reading’ when he was 6. On this episode we talk about his life-changing teen travels to Israel, Syria, Gaza & Kurdistan, the glory 90s and noughties days of magazine journalism, how LA porn sets are like a clinical operating room, driving a…
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#19 The Actor Who Had A Brain Injury On Stage - with Conor Madden
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51:32Conor Madden was playing his dream role of Hamlet when a sword fight went wrong and he suffered a brain injury on stage. In this episode, the Irish actor, who was 24 when it happened, tells Elizabeth and Julia his honest story of living with brain injury for the past 12 years . With humour and ease, Conor opens up about the challenges he has faced …
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#18 'More Than A Job': Striving To Improve Brain Injury Services For Everyone - with Headway CEO Luke Griggs
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44:25"With the right help, at the right time, there can be life after brain injury," says Luke Griggs, the Chief Executive of Headway, the UK's leading brain injury charity. In this episode, he speaks to Julia and Elizabeth about his vision for Headway which provides much needed support and information for all affected by brain injury. The charity helps…
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155. Warwick Davis; Cookies with Carrie Fisher in California, Varanasi with Karl Pilkington, The Seven Dwarfs of Auschwitz and The World’s Best Pencil Museum
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34:39Actor Warwick Davis' first trip abroad was to California at the age of 11 to star in Star Wars, a big jump from his day to day childhood in Surrey. On this episode we talk…Carrie Fisher feeding him cookies in the Redwood forest, sweltering in a rubber head-mask in the deserts of Tunisia, being a Goblin with David Bowie, causing mayhem in India on A…
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#17 Carers Week: Celebrating The Work Carers Do - With Elizabeth Callaghan and Julia Ajayi
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16:42On Carers Week, Elizabeth and Julia pay tribute to the incredible work unpaid carers do and speak about their own personal experiences of caring for someone. There are 5 million carers in England and Wales who contribute a staggering £162bn to the economy but as Elizabeth and Julia discuss, the true number is likely to be far higher. New research f…
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