Brain Fever Podcast

Brain Fever is hosted by autoimmune encephalitis survivor, Jackie M. Stebbins and is produced by her husband and former radio personality, Sean Arithson. Jackie was a nationally recognized trial lawyer until almost overnight, she couldn't read or tell the time, and had full body tremors and seizures. After a horror story illness and near-death experience, Jackie miraculously survived her "brain on fire" and began sharing her journey with others. Brain Fever is a testament to Jackie's resilience and the human spirit. She highlights not only her story, but the stories of others including cancer survivors, philosophers, lawyers, writers, and others affected by autoimmune encephalitis. She also focuses on mental health, hoping to bring to light the diagnoses so many face and to destigmatize it. (And she talks A LOT about Elton John!)

Jackie is the author of "Unwillable: A Journey to Reclaim My Brain" and the JM Stebbins blog, a motivational speaker, and the host of the Brain Fever podcast.

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Brain Fever Podcast

Life Lied

May 13, 2024 • JM Stebbins

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In this episode, Jackie hosts a dear old friend from law school, Amber Gustafson. Amber just happens to be a former lawyer turned judge, mother of three, Iraq veteran, and avid walker. She also happens to be a young widow. In 2021, on what started as a routine Tuesday morning for their family of five, Lieutenant Adam Gustafson suffered a massive heart attack and completed his end of watch. Amber and her children lost their husband, father, and the States of North Dakota and Minnesota lost a devoted veteran, patriot, and emergency services officer. Adam also left Amber a vast whiskey collection, which led her to begin "The Whiskey Widow," blog.

You can now find Amber praying, walking, working, taxiing kiddos to all the sports, blogging, and guesting on a regional radio station. Amber and her family are also the founders of the Lieutenant Adam Gustafson Memorial Fund whose mission is to provide scholarships and other donations to law enforcement students and emergency services personnel.

Join Jackie and Amber as they discuss how to move forward when it feels like life lied to you.

You can find Amber's blog @ thewhiskeywidow.com ~ "Pour yourself a sip. Stay for the stories."

You can also find Amber on Instagram @ thewhiskeywidow

You can find and donate to Adam's Memorial Fund @ adamgustafsongive.com