S2E9: Kira Dales and Stroke Recovery

Dec 4, 2025
31 mins

Episode Description

Today's episode is inspired by a letter we received from listener Laura Tiberi asking us to consider how life choices can be different for "those who are faced with significant transitions as a result of medical illness or injury." Laura was "retired by leukemia", has experienced two stem cell transplants and "is 3 1/2 years old in transplant years."

We speak to Kira Dales, a fellow Fellow of Liz's at Stanford last year, who tells us of her life since a brain tumor and stroke. Her story includes physical, communication, cognitive and emotional recovery over the last 6 years.

Kira Dales on Stanford DCI site and LinkedIn.

Homework:

Kira recommends Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir Of A Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad.

Here is Suleika Jaouad's substack Creative Alchemy: The Isolation Journals.

Here is an interview on CBS Sunday Morning with Suleika Jaouad and her husband Jon Batiste.


Welcome to our new sponsor Stanford Federal Credit UnionTo use their $620 New Member offer, go to sfcu.org/lizness


If you are new to Lizness School, we suggest you listen to Season 1 to hear all about Liz's year as a Stanford Fellow. Everything from Neuroscience and Chinese History to Pickleball! Plus a great community experience with her fellow DCI Fellows.

Season 2 is about how she puts her lessons to work in the wild with the help of her millennial mentor Leah Sutherland.

To listen to Liz +. Leah's recap of Lizness School Season 1, go to our FINALE here.

For more on Liz Dolan, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more on Liz's work in podcasting, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Satellite Sisters⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Lizness School on all podcasting platforms including ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow Producer and Millennial Mentor Leah Sutherland @leahhsutherlandd on Instagram and Leah Sutherland on LinkedIn

To email Lizness School with your own voice memos/questions/thoughts/suggestions for Liz or Leah, use ⁠⁠⁠⁠liznessschool@gmail.com

The Distinguished Careers Institute is a unique program for late career people. Fellows are graduate students at Stanford University, able to take classes in any area. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Complete information here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

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