In this episode of Truly Universal: Life After TBI, hosts Chris and Eric sit down with Noah, Lead Vocational Specialist at Universal Institute in New Jersey, to talk about real-world employment, purpose, and independence after TBI.

Noah breaks down how vocational rehabilitation works inside a TBI day program — from paid client jobs and skill trials to building confidence through responsibility. The conversation highlights Winston’s Café, a client-run coffee program where individuals with traumatic brain injuries work as baristas, cash handlers, delivery staff, and menu planners.

This episode explores:

• How vocational rehab helps adults with TBI return to meaningful work
• Why getting paid matters for confidence and identity
• How client-run programs like Winston’s Café build real-life job skills
• The role of community employment after brain injury
• Why progress after TBI takes time — and why that’s okay

This is not a clinical lecture or inspirational hype. It’s an honest conversation about life after brain injury, the power of purpose, and what recovery looks like when people are trusted to contribute.

🎧 Recorded at Universal Institute, Livingston, NJ
🎙️ Featuring staff, clients, and lived experience

In Episode 3 of Truly Universal: Life After TBI, Chris and Eric welcome their first-ever guest, Tyree Bray, and the conversation goes everywhere in the best way. Tyree shares his journey through art, cooking, music, service, and life at Universal Institute, talking about confidence, creativity, faith, and believing in yourself again.

From soul food and shrimp scampi to R&B legends, drawing angels, helping others, and even a little love for Muenster cheese, this episode recorded at Universal Institute in New Jersey, is full of laughter, inspiration, and real talk.

It’s a reminder that recovery isn’t one thing, it’s many paths coming together.

In Episode 2 of Truly Universal: Life After TBI, Chris and Eric are back after the holidays and catching up—talking dogs, family time, New Year goals, and what it really means to show up with a positive mental attitude (PMA).

The conversation wanders (in the best way) through growth, communication, learning new things, staying present, and why believing in yourself matters—especially after a traumatic brain injury.

Recorded at Universal Institute in New Jersey, this episode is relaxed, thoughtful, occasionally goofy, and full of real-life reflections about moving forward, one day at a time.

Truly Universal: Life After TBI starts with a simple idea: let’s talk about what life after a traumatic brain injury is actually like. In Episode 1, hosts Eric Levine and Chris Vaglio kick things off with real stories, laughs, side tangents, and yes, an unexpected but passionate discussion about Muenster cheese.

Recorded at Universal Institute in New Jersey, this episode sets the tone for a podcast that’s honest, unfiltered, sometimes serious, sometimes funny, and always human.

No medical lectures. No pretending there’s one TBI story. Just real conversations about recovery, daily life, creativity, resilience, and figuring it out as you go.

Truly Universal: Life After TBI is a podcast that challenges what people think they know about traumatic brain injury. Hosted by Eric Levine and Chris Vaglio, the show centers lived experience—conversations with people navigating life after TBI, not just talking about them.

Each episode shares real stories exploring recovery, identity, relationships, mental health, work, resilience, and hope. Recorded at Universal Institute in New Jersey, the podcast is candid, compassionate, educational, and sometimes fun—because life after TBI isn’t just survival. It’s being seen, heard, and understood.