Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

Dr Reece Granger BSc (Hons), BChiro
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Sport
  • Updated Weekly

Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, discusses all things concussion. From the physiology, effects, treatment and rehabilitation process. All with the aim of providing the tools and education to help patients. DISCLAIMER: All information discussed and provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice of doctors or healthcare practitioners. If a listener believes they are suffering from a similar injury to one discussed by the author, please seek medical care of your doctor or physician and do not rely on the author's advice.

  1. 3 days ago

    Heading for Trouble: Football’s Head Impact Crisis – And How We Save the Game with Dr Kevin Moore

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Moore is the founding Director of England’s National Football Museum, which he built from the ground up over more than twenty years, bringing together world-class collections, including the FIFA Collection. He opened the museum in Preston in 2001 before relocating it to Manchester in 2012, where it attracted over half a million visitors annually. He has advised sports museums internationally and written extensively on football history and museum culture. His latest book, Heading for Trouble: Football’s Head Impact Crisis – And How We Save the Game, published by Bloomsbury Sport, draws on research and interviews with former players and neurological experts to explore the links between repetitive heading and brain disease, football’s slow response, and how the game can protect its players while preserving everything we love about it.   02:00 - Running a Sports Museum,  04:24 - Writing a Book on Football & Concussion? 08:00 - How Heading Became Part of the Game  15:45 – Concussion, CTE & Repetitive Heading Impacts 21:10 – Differences in Men, Women and Children 32:20 – Who Creates the Rules and Changes the Rules 36:40 – Ball Size, New vs Old 41:20 – Personal Views on Changing Rules for the Game  45:20- Favourite Sporting Moment and Piece of Memorabilia from a Museum  49:50 - Purchasing the Book and Supporting Dr Kevin Moore’s Work?   Dr Kevin Moore https://doctorkevinmoore.org https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/heading-for-trouble-9781399428248/   Audio Book on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1iA6Tpl5kqida5p0VJnZcN?si=32466a2f1b524e1d         Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  2. 13 Oct

    Concussions, Culture and The Sociology of Sport with Dr Jack Hardwicke

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Hardwicke is a Senior Lecturer in the Sociology of Sport at Nottingham Trent University and a leading UK voice on brain injury in sport. A former competitive cyclist who suffered a brain injury himself, he now works with colleagues on how to better care for former athletes living with neurodegeneration and their families. Through his research and his writing for the British Journal of Sports Medicine and The Conversation, he challenges sport to focus on preventing brain injuries rather than only managing them after they happen.  01:30 – Journey into Concussion and Sociology Research 09:30 - What is a Concussion in Sociology Research 13:00 - “Knowledge Doesn't Equal Safety" Paradox 20:00 - Brain Injury in Women’s Sport and Misconceptions 30:08 - Suspected CTE and Families Research 46:15 – Children and Brain Injury  54:53 - Where to Find Dr Jack Hardwicke Dr Jack Hardwickie  https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/science-technology/jack-hardwicke Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=riOu_9AAAAAJ&hl=en Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  3. 6 Oct

    Repetitive Head Impacts, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome with Dr Robert Stern (Re-Release)

    Send us Fan Mail Professor Stern is a Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. As co-founder of the BU CTE Center and former Director of Clinical Research, he has spent nearly two decades pioneering ways to detect and diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) during life, while uncovering the long-term neurological impact of repetitive head trauma in former athletes. His ground-breaking work includes major projects such as the landmark DETECT and DIAGNOSE CTE studies, the Head Impact & Trauma Surveillance Study, and numerous investigations into biomarkers and diagnostic criteria for concussion and CTE. With more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, key advisory roles with the NFLPA and NCAA, and recognition such as the 2025 Leon Thal Prize for Research Excellence, Professor Stern is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts shaping modern concussion and CTE science.    06:50 - Dr Robert Stern’s Journey into Neurology, Neurodegenerative Disease and Repetitive Head Impacts 13:00 - What Does Boston University CTE Do? 15:55 – Repetitive Head Impacts  20:45 – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy  24:35 – Dementia  28:25 – Neurological Disease’s and Clinical Testing In vivo  32:24 – Biomarkers, Diagnosis Dementia and Growth in the Field 40:00 – Nocebo Effect and Understanding/ Misunderstanding of What is Known 45:35 - Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome and Diagnostic Criteria 01:02:00 – Summary of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome 01:07:00 – How to Help and Support Dr Stern’s Work     Professor Robert Stern:  https://www.bu.edu/cte/ https://www.bu.edu/cte/profile/robert-stern/   https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=42mlewcAAAAJ&hl=en       Subscribe, review and share for new episodes which will drop weekly  Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  4. 29 Sept

    Prevalence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Death in National Football League Players: Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study, 2008-21 with Dr Daniel Daneshvar

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Daneshvar is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, Chair of physical medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation, and Co-Director of Sports Concussion at Mass General Brigham, whilst also a long-time collaborator with the Boston University CTE Centre. Lastly, Dr Daneshvar earned the National Neurotrauma Society's 2024 Rising Star Award, whilst publishing more than 100 papers and being cited over 18,000 times by his academic peers. One of those articles is “Prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at death in National Football League players: retrospective population-based cohort study, 2008-21” The topic of today’s conversation.  01:15 - Journey into Neurosciences and Brain Injury  02:50 – What is and Difference Between Concussion and CTE 05:16 -  “Prevalence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy at Death in National Football League Players: Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study, 2008-21” What are the major findings? How was it conducted…. Etc 09:10 – Extrapolation of CTE in Populations & Correlation Against Death Certificates 12:13 – Stage’s of CTE 15:10 - Accelerometer Data as a Predictor of CTE vs Career Length  18:10 - Significant Challenges in Conducting Studies Around CTE 23:10 – Risk Reduction  27:40 - How Can we Help Support Dr Daneshvar Research   Dr Daniel Daneshvar Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YF2omqkAAAAJ&hl=en  Prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at death in National Football League players: retrospective population-based cohort study, 2008-21 : https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100418 Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  5. 22 Sept

    Neuropathology and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) with Dr Michael Buckland

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Buckland is Head of the Department of Neuropathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. He founded and directs the Australian Sports Brain Bank, established in 2018, which has since become a leading centre for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He is also a co-founder of Brainstorm, a brain cancer research initiative at RPA, and leads research across gliomas, neurodegenerative diseases and molecular neuropathology. 01:17 – Dr Buckland’s Journey Neuropathology and What is Neuropathology 04:25 - Concussion, repetitive head impact 07:50 – What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) 10:20 – How is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Diagnosed  13:00 – Separating Different Types of Neurodegenerative Disease  16:54 – Does Response Relationship  19:00 -Brain Donation and Difficulties in Approaching Donations 23:00 – Brainstorm and Cancer   Google Schoolar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=A4mEg3QAAAAJ&hl=en Australian Sports Brain Bank: https://brainbank.org.au BrainStorm: https://brainbenefit.org/causes/brainstorm-at-rpa/     Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  6. 15 Sept

    Concussion, Women’s Health and Acupuncture with Dr Ayla Wolf

    Send us Fan Mail Dr. Wolf is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the founder of Healing Response Acupuncture & Functional Neurology in Stillwater, Minnesota. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, she specialises in neurological acupuncture, post-concussion syndrome, and traumatic brain injury recovery. Her approach combines functional neurology and applied clinical neuroscience, supported by post-doctoral training at the Carrick Institute, where she serves as an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine. Dr. Wolf has also worked as a team acupuncturist for UFC and Legacy fighters at Fortis MMA in Dallas. She is the host of Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast and the author of The Art of Concussion Recovery and The Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces to Recovery. 01:40 - Journey from Acupuncture to Concussion Care  08:50 – Concussion, What It Means in and Functional Assessments in Dr Wolf’s Clinic  16:30 – Where it Fits in Concussion 23:00 – Clinical Approach on Female Population 29:20 – Acupuncture Needles Gauge Explained 31:15 – Dr Wolf’s Books 40:30 - Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast 48:00 – Where to Find Dr Wolf Dr Ayla Wolf https://lifeafterimpact.com/podcast https://acupunctureneurology.com/about IG: @lifeafterimpact FB: https://www.facebook.com/amy.ayla.wolf/   Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  7. 8 Sept

    Probable CTE, Football & Brain Health with Valerie Wade & Former Socceroo Captain Paul Wade

    Send us Fan Mail Paul captained the Socceroos throughout the 1990s, earning 84 caps and playing 345 National Soccer League games for clubs including Croydon, Green Gully, Brunswick and South Melbourne. He led Australia from 1990 to 1996, including at the Olympics and through two World Cup qualifying campaigns, and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. More recently, Paul has bravely spoken publicly about his diagnosis of probable CTE, linked to repeated head impacts throughout his career, using his experience to advocate for better brain health protections in football.   01:40 - Paul's Journey into football 04:05 - Football at Barnsley 06:00 – How Paul and Val Met 08:30 – Diagnosis of Probable CTE 11:30 – Process of Diagnosis 19:40 – Perspective of a Diagnosis and Day to Day life 24:30 – Impact on Work 27:20 – Paul’s Epilepsy  30:30 – Advocacy, Training with Probable CTE 39:25 – Pauls Favourite Footballing Moments 43:00 – Old National Soccer League/ NLS Day’s 44:50 – Val’s Favourite Moments  47:07 – Find Paul/ Support  49:10 – Dad Joke’s                                                            Paul Wade Life Skills: www.paulwade.com.auEpilepsy Action Australia / Paul Wade: www.epilepsy.org.auDr Rowena Mobbs: www.rowena.mobbs.com.auConneCTErs Australia: www.connecters.org.auTwitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  8. 1 Sept

    Edgework, Consent and the Violence Paradox in Martial Arts with Dr Alex Channon

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Channon is a Principal Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Studies at the University of Brighton, UK. His work covers sociology of sport, in particular martial arts and combat sports, examining topics such as gender and sexuality in participation, the role of martial arts in physical education curricula and media portrayals of professional fighters. Dr Channon has authored over 43 publications serves as an editor for the journal of Martial Arts Studies and Special Advisory Board Member, International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development.    01:25 - Journey into Sociology, and Martial Arts 06:10 – What is Edgework/ Consent 12:00 – Fighting and Violence Paradox  25:10 - Protecting fighters in unregulated combat sports  36:54 – Mixed Fighting/ Sparing  46:10 - Sexualisation of the fighter's body  51:00 – Where to Find Dr Alex Channon and Support His Work Dr Alex Channon https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=wVLoke8AAAAJ&citation_for_view=wVLoke8AAAAJ:e5wmG9Sq2KIC   Additional Resources for further viewing and context Lecture 1 – violence/consent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdhWnqo3naQ (starts around 12 mins),    Lecture 2 – risk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddx9VYR0sEo,   Lecture 3 – gender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWnymS6_gEQ.   Subscribe, review and share for new episodes, which drop weekly  www.headfirstaconcussionpodcast.com Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, discusses all things concussion. From the physiology, effects, treatment and rehabilitation process. All with the aim of providing the tools and education to help patients. DISCLAIMER: All information discussed and provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice of doctors or healthcare practitioners. If a listener believes they are suffering from a similar injury to one discussed by the author, please seek medical care of your doctor or physician and do not rely on the author's advice.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr Reece Granger BSc (Hons), BChiro
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    152
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast
  • Show Website
    Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

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