Imagine plunging into the depths of the English Channel, thirty meters below the surface, utterly alone. Panic takes over, your breath spiralling out of control when survival depends on calm. What happens next doesn’t just save the dive—it changes your outlook on life.

Years later, a sudden stroke brings an entirely new challenge. Recovery plunges you into a different kind of depth—one filled with uncertainty, frustration, and self-discovery. Through this chaos, creativity ignites, lessons emerge, and breathing transforms from a reflex into a powerful symbol of resilience.

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome retired IT manager, guitar teacher, history buff, and music lover Peter Cass who invites us on a breathtaking journey through two defining moments: a near-drowning experience and the long road to recovery after a stroke. Both tested his limits and reshaped his identity, revealing the human spirit's ability to rise from life’s deepest challenges.

Peter's Resource Suggestions:

Different Strokes
Markus Birdman
Peter Cass' Substack
Peter Cass' Facebook
Peter Cass' Instagram
Same You
Stroke Association UK
What is Yoga Nidra - WebMD

Community Conversation Prompts:

1. What reminds you to stop and focus on your breath each day?
2. What is a surprising lesson you’ve learned from a difficult experience?

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is made possible by our guests and tax-deductible donations from friends and listeners like you.

Join us in empowering stroke survivors with stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope at www.beyondstillness.org

Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke is made possible by our guests and tax-deductible donations from friends and listeners like you. Join us in empowering stroke survivors with stories of wisdom, purpose, connection, and hope at www.beyondstillness.org

Another way to support is to like, share, or subscribe to our weekly show.

Imagine plunging into the depths of the English Channel, thirty meters below the surface, utterly alone. Panic takes over, your breath spiralling out of control when survival depends on calm. What happens next doesn’t just save the dive—it changes your outlook on life.

Years later, a sudden stroke brings an entirely new challenge. Recovery plunges you into a different kind of depth—one filled with uncertainty, frustration, and self-discovery. Through this chaos, creativity ignites, lessons emerge, and breathing transforms from a reflex into a powerful symbol of resilience.

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome retired IT manager, guitar teacher, history buff, and music lover Peter Cass who invites us on a breathtaking journey through two defining moments: a near-drowning experience and the long road to recovery after a stroke. Both tested his limits and reshaped his identity, revealing the human spirit's ability to rise from life’s deepest challenges.

Peter's Resource Suggestions:

Different Strokes
Markus Birdman
Peter Cass' Substack
Peter Cass' Facebook
Peter Cass' Instagram
Same You
Stroke Association UK
What is Yoga Nidra - WebMD

Community Conversation Prompts:

1. What reminds you to stop and focus on your breath each day?
2. What is a surprising lesson you’ve learned from a difficult experience?

This week on Beyond Stillness: Stories After Stroke, we welcome musician and author of Saigon Siren: Memoir of a Stroke Recovery. Antonio Iannella's journey through recovery became a testament to the healing power of creativity. From early sparks of inspiration in childhood to the intense, life-changing challenges of rebuilding himself, Antonio found music and writing to be both a refuge and a guide. Tune in to hear how he transformed adversity into a renewed sense of purpose, finding hope and joy in simple moments, and ultimately, reconnecting with the passion that saved his life.

Community Conversation Prompts:

1. What helps you get through the tough times?
2. How do you arrange your schedule to encounter moments of joy each day?

Antonio's Resources:

Saigon Siren: Memoir of a Stroke Recovery
Social Media Links - Facebook and Instagram