Krempels and NRHN launch survivor produced podcast about brain injury

PORTSMOUTH– Thanks to the generosity of Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network, members of the Krempels Brain Injury Center spent the summer meeting weekly in the Let’s “Talk Radio” Podcasting group, planning, recording, and re-recording to produce a podcast created by survivors to accurately shed light on life after brain injury.

“This group is about talking and listening,” says Nick Ho, CTRS, who is a program coordinator at Krempels. Since the first Let’s “Talk Radio” podcast pilot group in the spring of 2024, Nick has been keeping a dual role both leading the group and being the host of the podcast.

“Through research, we’ve found that narrative storytelling and the peer-to-peer interview format can be beneficial to supporting personal recovery following an acquired brain injury.” Thanks to NRHN, the first complete episode of the podcast has been recorded, edited, and released for all to hear.

Krempels Brain Injury Center members are all survivors of an acquired brain injury, and took great pride and care in the formatting of the podcast, making sure the pace and volume of the conversation was accessible to anyone listening. In the first episode, Nick and members interview the center’s founder, David Krempels, who shares his brain injury journey and how it inevitably led to opening a center for survivors in the year 2000.

As Krempels looks forward to celebrating 25 years as a place for survivors to find their best life after injury, the members are looking forward to creating more episodes thanks to NRHN’s ongoing support of the group.

“When we learned that the Krempels Brain Injury Center had started a podcast group with its members, we immediately knew that we wanted to help bring these important productions out of the classroom and into the community. In the Let’s “Talk Radio” podcast, survivors of acquired brain injury offer real insight into their recovery and resilience as they share stories and conversation,” says Tricia Desrocher, PT, MS, CSRS, vice president of Strategic Planning at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network.

The power of community is one of the greatest healers. Krempels’ community of survivors crafted every part of this podcast and decided on its name. They offer hope and perspective to survivors and their loved ones at every stage of their journey, and they help everyone understand how an acquired brain injury affects people’s lives. For many of these survivors, their journey after injury began at an NRHN acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

“Our rehabilitation specialists and patients form their own bonds and community. They constantly inspire, encourage and motivate each other. That’s why sponsoring this program was such a natural connection. We’re so glad our patients can find such meaningful connections and opportunities with the Krempels community,” says Tricia.

To listen to the Let’s “Talk Radio” Podcast and find out what life after brain injury is like in survivors own words, visit www.kbicenter.org/letstalkradio to listen there, or on Spotify, with more episodes coming soon.

About Krempels Brain Injury Center:

Krempels Brain Injury Center’s mission is to improve the quality of life of people living with brain injury through evidence-based programming, shared experiences, and support in a welcoming community. Established in 2000, Krempels Brain Injury Center is renowned for its top-notch therapeutic programs designed specifically for brain injury survivors. Krempels Brain Injury Center is a unique resource on the Seacoast, being the sole service of its kind in New Hampshire and one of only a few across the nation.

Survivors of brain injuries often encounter challenges when trying to resume their previous roles at work, home, and in the community. Krempels Brain Injury Center offers opportunities for social interaction, skill development, and the exploration of new interests, both in-person and online. Within this vibrant learning community, survivors find healing through shared experiences, peer support, and therapeutic activities. Research conducted in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire has shown that Krempels Brain Injury Center members tend to enjoy a higher quality of life, experience less stress, and establish stronger social connections compared to typical brain injury survivors.

To learn more about Krempels Brain Injury Center, please visit www.KBIcenter.org, or for information on referring a client or friend or becoming a member yourself, call 603-570-2026, extension 220.

About Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network:
Since 1984, Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network has been providing comprehensive rehabilitation services to help individuals affected by an unexpected, life-changing injury or illness, such as an acquired brain injury, rebuild their lives. The Network provides specialized care across multiple locations including four acute inpatient rehabilitation hospitals (Portsmouth, Salem, Manchester and Nashua, NH); 20 outpatient clinics serving the NH Seacoast area and the Greater Merrimack Valley (NH and MA); an outpatient pediatric division and a sports medicine division. The Network is accredited by The Joint Commission and all four hospitals have also earned Disease-Specific Care Certification for brain injury, stroke, and amputee rehabilitation.

When a patient chooses to continue their rehabilitation journey at one of our hospitals, they benefit from specialized custom rehabilitation care with a comprehensive clinical team consisting of dedicated hospitalists and physiatrists; RNs; physical, speech and occupational therapists; and specialty physicians. Together, they collaborate to define a plan that includes three hours of the most appropriate combined therapies per day for at least five days per week and access to 24/7 medical care. Individuals may choose to continue their care at one of our outpatient rehabilitation clinics. In addition, our outpatient clinics provide specialized care for individuals needing therapy due to a variety of conditions, injuries and illnesses. To learn more about Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network, please visit www.NortheastRehab.com or call 603-893-2900.