EP-176 Sailing for Epilepsy: Phil Haydon’s Mission to Inspire and Educate

About this episode

Phil Haydon shares his journey with epilepsy and his mission to educate others through sailing.

In this episode of the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of the United States podcast, hosts Bela Musits and Mike Wasserman sit down with a guest whose life mission sits at the intersection of high-stakes offshore sailing and cutting-edge brain science. Phil Haydon is a retired neuroscientist who has turned his personal battle with a hidden disability into a global movement called Sail For Epilepsy. Phil shares his deeply personal journey, which began at the age of 15 when a head injury led to a lifelong diagnosis of epilepsy. Despite the physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, Phil rose to the top of the scientific community. Now, he is using the platform of offshore sailing to "give back" to a community that often suffers in silence due to deep-seated social stigma. The conversation covers the staggering reality of the condition: 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, and 1 in 10 will experience a seizure. Phil explains the biological nature of epilepsy—as an alteration in the brain's electrical activity—while highlighting famous figures like Danny Glover and NFL quarterback Justin Fields who live with the condition. Most importantly, Phil…

People in this episode

Hosts: Bela Musits, Mike Wasserman

Guest: Phil Haydon

Topics covered

• epilepsy
• offshore sailing
• neuroscience
• personal journey
• seizure first aid
• social stigma

Keywords

• epilepsy
• sailing
• neuroscience
• seizure first aid
• social stigma
• personal journey
• Phil Haydon

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