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Survivor Science
Stroke recovery is brutal. It takes discipline, obsession, and endless hours of work. I’m Will Schmierer, a stroke survivor living with MS, and I’ve spent thousands of hours studying, testing, and living recovery. Not because I wanted to. Because I had to.
Through Survivor Science, I share what I’ve learned through blood, sweat, and research. We dive into conversations with survivors and experts who’ve done the work. No shortcuts. No miracle cures. Just real science and strategies that drive recovery forward.
Not because I wanted to master recovery. Because I had to. Let’s dig in.
Episodes
78 episodes
77. Stroke Recovery and Finding Strength: A Conversation with Jan Burl
In episode 77 of Survivor Science, I sit down with stroke survivor, author, and coach Jan Burl to talk about her incredible journey of resilience and recovery. Jan shares her powerful story of surviving a severe hemorrhagic stroke, the challeng...
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76. Podcasting After Stroke: Sharing Stories and Building Community
In episode 76 of the Survivor Science podcast, I dig into one of the most common questions I hear from stroke survivors: how do you start a podcast or livestream to share your journey? Whether you’re a stroke survivor, a caregiver, or just some...
75. Stroke Survivor Insights: What We Wish You Knew
In episode 75 of the Survivor Science podcast, I dive into the realities of life after stroke and what we as survivors wish others understood. From the invisible challenges like fatigue and the mental load of recovery to the misconceptions that...
74. Stroke Recovery and Responsibility: Survivor Science Soundbite
Welcome to 2025 and the first episode of the year! In this episode, I’m diving into the themes of responsibility and mindset in stroke recovery, inspired by Bill Gasiamis’s book, Stroke: The Best Thing That Happened to Me. One of the k...
73. Survivor Science Soundbite: Closing 2024 – A Year for Stroke Survivors
As 2024 wraps up, Survivor Science reflects on a year of significant growth and evolution. The rebranding from The Lovable Survivor Podcast to Survivor Science was a key milestone, aligning the platform more closely with its m...
72. Soundbite: Stroke Recovery Reflections: Five Years, Lessons, and the Holiday Crunch
In this week's Survivor Science Soundbite, recorded on the Monday before Christmas, I reflect on five transformative years since my stroke on December 22, 2019. From navigating the early days of recovery to balancing progress with setbacks like...
71. Stroke Survivor Rachel Abbasi: From Sobriety to Navigating Invisible Disabilities and Building Recovery Daily
In this episode of Survivor Science, Rachel Abbasi, host of the Recovery Daily Podcast, shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey through sobriety, stroke recovery, and life with an invisible disability. Rachel’s story ...
70. Survivor Science Soundbite: Building a Relentless Mindset for Stroke Recovery
In this episode, we dive into Relentless by Tim Grover, a powerful book on the mindset of high performers like Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade, and connect its lessons to stroke recovery. Highlights include:The Three Archety...
69. Survivor Science Soundbite: Stroke Recovery Grinding Through Recovery with Purpose
In this Soundbite, I’m wrapping up the week by diving deeper into the grind of recovery. From running to discipline to the power of showing rather than just telling, this episode focuses on the relentless effort required for progress. I reflect...
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68. Survivor Science Soundbite: Recovery is a Grind, Building Discipline and Community
In this episode of Survivor Science Soundbites, I reflect on the realities of recovery from stroke and MS, sharing my personal journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Recovery is a grind. It takes discipline, consistent eff...
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67. Survivor Science Soundbites: Wrapping Up the Ego Paradox in Stroke Recovery
This episode wraps up our week exploring the ego paradox and how it impacts stroke recovery. Ego is tricky—it can push us to make great progress, but it can also hold us back when we get in our own way. Whether it’s the drive to keep going or t...
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66. Stroke Survivor and Advocate – Jason "LionHeart" Lopes' Journey of Resilience
In this inaugural episode of Survivor Science—formerly The Lovable Survivor Podcast—I sit down with Jason "LionHeart" Lopes, a media coordinator for MMA organizations and an advocate for stroke survivors. Jason shares his jour...
65. Survivor Science Soundbites: The Ego Paradox in Stroke Recovery
In this week’s Survivor Science Soundbite #7, I dive into the "ego paradox" and how it impacts stroke recovery. Ego can be a powerful tool, fueling persistence and helping us push through plateaus, but it can also become a blocker, keeping us f...
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64. Survivor Science Soundbites: Gratitude, Growth, and Lessons from Athletes in Stroke Recovery
In this pre-Thanksgiving episode, I reflect on the ups and downs of the recovery journey and why gratitude plays such an important role. From sharing personal updates about life as a stroke survivor and the relentless pursuit of progress to exp...
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63. Survivor Science Soundbites: Fueling Recovery Insights from Good Energy for Stroke Survivors
In this week’s Survivor Science Soundbite #5, I delve into Good Energy by Casey and Callie Means. This holistic guide to health and wellness offers valuable insights for stroke survivors, covering topics from anti-inflammatory foods to...
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62. Natural Recovery Breakthroughs: Keith Ellis Bridges Stroke and Long COVID Science
In this episode of The Lovable Survivor Podcast, I sit down with Keith Ellis, a medicinal chemist, associate professor, and founder of Science-Driven Supplements. With his extensive background in drug discovery and natural products, Ke...
61. Survivor Science Soundbites: Wrapping Up the Week on Curiosity and Stroke Recovery
In this Survivor Science Soundbite, I’m wrapping up the week with reflections on curiosity and its role in stroke recovery. As the host and writer, I’ve spent the week exploring how curiosity shapes resilience and growth, and this epis...
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60. Survivor Science Soundbites: Curiosity in Recovery: The Questions That Drive Us
In Survivor Science Soundbite #3, I’m diving into something that’s been on my mind all weekend—curiosity. For me, curiosity might be the most powerful driver in my stroke recovery, pushing me to ask deeper questions, try new things, an...
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59. Survivor Science Soundbites: Recapping Psychedelics in Stroke Recovery
In this Survivor Science Soundbite, I’m following up on our discussion from Episode 1 about psychedelics and their potential role in stroke recovery. Earlier this week, we explored the emerging research on psilocybin, the active compou...
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58. Stroke Survivor & Content Creator Bill Gasiamis on Resilience, Recovery, and Personal Growth
In this episode of The Lovable Survivor Podcast, I’m excited to sit down with Bill Gasiamis, stroke survivor and creator of the Recovery After Stroke podcast and YouTube channel. We dive deep into what it really takes to build...
57. Survivor Science Soundbite: The Potential of Psychedelics in Healing
In this first Survivor Science Soundbite, I’m bringing you a quick dive into a topic that’s getting attention in recovery science: psychedelics—specifically psilocybin, the active compound in ‘magic mushrooms’—and its potential role in stroke r...
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56: Navigating Stroke Recovery and PTSD – A Journey of Resilience and Reflection
In this episode of The Lovable Survivor Podcast, I’m diving into a topic that doesn’t get enough attention—PTSD in stroke recovery. Recorded on U.S. election day, this episode marks five years since my own stroke, and I’m reflecting on...
55. Stroke Recovery and Advocacy: Ralph Cortese's Journey with Stroke Warrior Radio
This week I’m joined by Ralph Cortese, stroke survivor and founder of Stroke Warrior Radio. Ralph’s journey began on the East Coast, where an ischemic stroke changed his life. This major event set him on a path westward to begin a new ...
54. Pivoting Through Stroke Recovery: Recognizing When It’s Time for a Change
In this episode, I explore an essential yet often overlooked aspect of stroke recovery: knowing when it’s time to pivot. Recovery is rarely a linear process, and recognizing when to adjust your approach—whether in fitness, career, or personal g...
53. Stroke Recovery and the Power of Discipline, Obsession, and Curiosity
In this episode, I explore a crucial aspect of recovery that doesn’t get enough attention: the role of discipline, obsession, and curiosity in the long journey of stroke recovery. Having survived a stroke and now facing an MS diagnosis, I under...