Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

Dr Reece Granger BSc (Hons), BChiro
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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. 1D AGO

    Best of 2025 Part 3: Concussion — The Brain, Dementia, Litigation and Autonomy

    Send us a text  In this special episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the most powerful, challenging, and eye-opening moments from our past conversations. If you’ve missed any of our critical discussions brain function, dementia, litigation and autonomy this episode brings the best of it all together. We’ve carefully curated standout highlights from each major theme, featuring expert guests who have examined this complexities of concussion.     Brain and Dementia  01:40 Amanda Ellison Episode 92 – Lobes and Functions of the Brain 07:50 Tommy Wood Episode 94 - Inflammation in the Brain: Causes and Effects 11:40 Robert Stern Episode 105 – Dementia 13:36 Rachel Grashow Episode 82 - Co-morbidities Mimicking Dementia Like Disease 17:17 Judith Gates Episode 89 - Bill Gates and Personal Experience Law 25:32 Peter Jess Episode 85 - Concussion Protocol Stand Down Times and Unpacking AFL litigation  33:06 Eric Windholz Episode 96 - Legal Case’s Club vs Organisations Autonomy 36:30 Stephen Casper Episode 83 - Consent and Bodily Autonomy Versus Fiduciary   **Full episode and context Dr Casper asked my thoughts on the question before his responses**

    43 min

  2. DEC 16

    Best of 2025 Part 2: Concussion — Youth Population, Ethics, Research, Sociology, and Journalism

    Send us a text In this special episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the most powerful, challenging, and eye-opening moments from our past conversations. If you’ve missed any of our critical discussions around ethics in sport, emerging concussion research, the social impact of brain injury, or the role of journalism in shaping public understanding, this episode brings the best of it all together. We’ve carefully curated standout highlights from each major theme, featuring expert guests who have examined the cultural, ethical, and scientific complexities of concussion—and why these conversations matter now more than ever.   Youth Concussion  02:00 - Christina Master - Episode 103: Most common Ways Youth Population are Concussed  09:30 - Julie Stamm - Episode 66: Hippocampus and Brain Development in Children Equipment/ Research/Ethics  14:00 - Lopez Frias - Episode 71: What is Ethics and Why is It Important in Sport 21:55- Joe Warne - Episode 59: Research Methods 28:30 - Kathleen Bachynsski Episode 100: Media and Marketing of Helmets in Football Causing Confusion 33:00 - James Smoliga – Episode 101: Q-Collar and the Flawed Science Sociology/ Journalism 48:15 - Dominic Malcom - Episode 76: Concussion in Sports: It’s Time to Drop the Tobacco Analogy 52:13 - Rachel Grashow - Epsiode 82: Perceived Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Suicidality in Former Professional Football Players:  57:47 - Stephanie Convery – Episode 68: Understanding the Adrenaline of Boxing and After the Count: The Death of Davey Browne 01:07:30 Irvin Muchnick - Episode 98: Chris Benoit and Irvin’s Work Journalistic Work in Concussion/ mTBI

    1h 14m

  3. DEC 9

    Best of 2025 Part 1: Concussion — History, Definition and the Impact of Repetitive Head Trauma and CTE

    Send us a text   In this special episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the most insightful, thought-provoking, and eye-opening moments from our past episodes. If you’ve missed any of the crucial conversations we've had about history, concussions and CTE, this episode is your chance to catch up with all the best bits. We’ve hand-picked highlights from each major theme, featuring expert guests who’ve shared their knowledge and research to shed light on the complexities of concussion and its long-term impacts.   History 05:29 - Stephen Townsend – Episode 93 (Re-release of Episode 34): History of Concussion in Australia 08:06 - Tony Collins – Episode 70: First Documented Cases of Concussion 13:15 - Stephen Casper – Episode 83: Historical Concepts and Activities of Brain Injury What is Concussion  16:30 - Jon Patricios – Episode 65: What is a Concussion  19:20 - Tommy Wood – Episode 94: Understanding Concussions, mTBI, and the Egg Analogy 26:28 - Nick Rushworth – Episode 77: Differences Between Mild, Moderate, and Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries   Repetitive Head Impacts & CTE  31:03 - Robert Cantu – Episode 81: What is RHI and CTE 35:34 - Robert Stern – Episode 105: Understanding RHI and CTE 43:58 - Matt Ventresca & Kathryn Henne – Episode 95: Sociocultural Perspectives

    50 min

  4. DEC 2

    NRL Premierships, State of Origins and Concussions with Newcastle Knights Legend Robbie O’Davis

    Send us a text Robbie O’Davis is a name etched into Newcastle Knights folklore. To the red-and-blue faithful, he’s better known as “Robbie O’Save-Us,” the fearless fullback whose blistering speed, courage under pressure, and game-changing brilliance helped define an era. Across more than 200 appearances for Newcastle, Robbie became one of the club’s most trusted match-winners, the kind of player teammates relied on and opponents feared. His impact stretched far beyond club footy. Robbie represented Queensland in State of Origin and proudly wore the green and gold for Australia, placing him among rugby league’s elite. His list of achievements tells the story: two NRL Premierships, a Clive Churchill Medal, a Rugby League World Cup winner’s medal, the State of Origin Shield, and the Wally Lewis Medal—previously known as the Ron McAuliffe Medal—for player of the Origin series. Few players reach those heights, and even fewer do so with Robbie’s blend of flair, toughness, and heart. Recognition followed throughout his career and beyond. He was named in the Newcastle Knights’ “Team of the Era” (1988–2007) and, in 2022, was inducted into the Newcastle National Rugby League Hall of Fame, cementing his place as one of the club’s all-time greats. But like many athletes whose professional careers end long before the passion fades, life after football brought challenges that required just as much determination as his playing days. Retirement didn’t come with a roadmap, and navigating the transition demanded every bit of the resilience that made him a standout on the field. His story is not only about sporting success—it’s about identity, perseverance, and finding purpose   01:35 - Robbie’s Journey into Rugby League 08:20 - Robbie’O Grand Final Dance  12:00 - Athlete Mentality  16:10 – Robbie’s Broken Nose and Palate Injury 19:05 – Concussion Experience and Dad’s Influence 22:10 – Pressure of Playing for a Town Like Newcastle 26:00 – Repetitive Head Impacts, Concussions and Effects Post Career 32:25 – NRL Study and Independent Results 39:00 – Public Perception and Risk of Sport 46:00 – Thought on Family Playing Rugby 50:40 – Advice Through Lived Experience with Repetitive Head Impacts 58:00 – Favourite Moments/ Memories of Robbie’s Career    Robbie O Instagram: @robbieosaveus1     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

    1h 6m

  5. NOV 25

    Repetitive Head Impacts (RHI), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES) with Dr Robert Stern

    Send us a text Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Professor Robert Stern. 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. 01:50 - Dr Robert Stern’s Journey into neurology, neurodegenerative disease and Repetitive Head Impacts 08:00 - What Does Boston University CTE Do? 10:55 – Repetitive Head Impacts   15:45 – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy  19:35 – Dementia   23:25 – Neurological Disease’s and Clinical Testing In vivo  27:24 – Biomarkers, Diagnosis Dementia and Growth in the Field  35:00 – Nocebo Effect and Understanding/ Misunderstanding of What is Known 43:35 - Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome and Diagnostic Criteria 57:00 – Summary of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome 01:02:00 – 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

    1h 5m

  6. NOV 18

    Orthopaedics, Concussion and Youth Sport Safety with Dr Bill Ribbans

    Send us a text Welcome back to headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Professor Bill Ribbans.  Professor Ribbans is a Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon and Professor of Sports Medicine, internationally recognised for his decades of work in elite sport and lower-limb orthopaedics. He trained in London, completed Fellowships in Sheffield and at Harvard, and began his Consultant career at the Royal Free before returning to Northampton, where he now works in full-time private practice. A prominent figure in sports medicine, Professor Ribbans has supported organisations such as Northampton Saints, Northampton Town FC, the English National Ballet, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, and UK Athletics—caring for Olympians, world champions, and international teams. Alongside his clinical practice, he remains actively involved in concussion research and athlete welfare, contributing to national conversations on head-injury management while supporting the safety-driven work of Progressive Rugby and Luca Health. He has published more than 150 scientific papers and authored several books, including Knife in the Fast Lane, which blends autobiography with reflections on his 40 years working at the crossroads of medicine and sport.   01:50 - Professor Ribbans Journey into Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery? 03:40 - Biggest Challenges Working as Team physician 07:33 – Is There an Over Emphasis on Return to Play Causing Increased Injuries?  12:35 – Return to Play Pressures  14:00 – Culture Around Injuries 16:51 – What is a Concussion? 19:47 – Process of a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) 27:15 – Advocacy’s for Youth Sports 35:10 – Implementation of Education Around Concussion in Youth Sports 43:10 – Advice for Parent and Coaches 49:30 – Most Rewarding Aspects of Professor Ribbans Job 52:10 – Where We Can Find Professor Ribbans   Progressive Rugby: https://www.progressiverugby.com Luca Health: https://luca.health Books: -       Knife In The Fast Lane : A Surgeon’s Perspective from the Sharpe End of Sport -       A Plague on All Your Sports: When Sport and the Pandemic Collided    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

    55 min

  7. NOV 11

    Understanding Youth Concussions with Dr Christina Master

    Send us a text Welcome Back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Professor Christina Master.  Dr. Christina Master is one of the world’s foremost experts in paediatric sports medicine and concussion care. She serves as a primary care sports medicine specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where she also co-directs the Minds Matter Concussion Program—a nationally recognized Frontier Program dedicated to advancing care and research in youth concussion. A Professor of Paediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, and a member of the Academy of Master Clinicians, Dr. Master has been widely honoured for her contributions to the field. Her accolades include research awards from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Paediatric Research in Sports Medicine, and CHOP’s Joanne M. Decker, MD Memorial Mentorship Award. With over 125 peer-reviewed publications and more than 8,000 citations, Dr. Master continues to shape the future of paediatric concussion care through ground breaking research, mentorship, and clinical excellence.     01:35 Journey into Paediatric Medicine and Concussion? 03:30 Concussion Over the Years and Addressing the Research Gap 05:40 What is a concussion and Differences Between Adult and Paediatric Populations 08:45 Impacts of Terminology and Language Around Concussion 11:50 Most common Ways Youth Population are Concussed  18:00 Listen to Child or Adolescence Regarding Symptoms of a Concussion  21:00 Signs/ Symptoms for Parents & Career Givers Regarding Medical Specialist Visit or Emergency Department  25:55 What’s Return-to-Play/Learn Look Like for Youth Population  35:30 Miss Conception About Concussion 39:50 Dr Master Research and How Can we Help/Support?     Dr Christina Master Twitter/x @drtinamaster https://www.chop.edu/doctors/master-christina-l https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=P3b3zh4AAAAJ&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

    43 min

  8. NOV 4

    The Sociology of Concussion: Aaron Hernandez, Media Representation and the Woodpecker with Dr Greg Hollin

    Send us a text Today we have the honour and privilege of being joined by Dr Greg Hollin. Dr Hollin is a research fellow in the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of Sheffield, where he explores the intersections of science, technology, medicine, and culture. His research focuses on areas such as neuroscience, concussion, CTE, biomimetic technology, and ethics. Throughout his career, Dr Hollin has received several major research awards, including the Welcome Trust Research Fellowship in Humanities and Social Science and the Welcome Trust University Award (2022–2027). His extensive body of work has been widely cited, with over 800 citations to date, and he is recognised as a highly respected figure in his field.  01:45 - About Dr Greg Hollin 03:40 - What is a concussion and Social Definitions 09:10 - History of Arron Hernandez  11:11 - Way Media Reporting on Hernandez, Concussion and CTE May Shape Discussions 16:00 – Narrative Around Brain Injury and Copiability  20:15 – Q-Collar, Woodpeckers and Commercial Interests In Animals 31:00 - What is Hard Knock Life: Negotiating Concussion and Dementia in Sport 37:00 – Where to Find Dr Greg Hollin and Support His Work   https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=s1mkGeYAAAAJ&hl=en Making a murderer: Media renderings of brain injury and Aaron Hernandez as a medical and sporting subject: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953619305933#bib16   Consider the woodpecker: The contested more-than-human ethics of biomimetic technology and traumatic brain injury: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=s1mkGeYAAAAJ&citation_for_view=s1mkGeYAAAAJ:TFP_iSt0sucC

    39 min
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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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast
  • Show Website
    Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

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