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. 2D AGO

    History of the NFL Forward Pass and 'The Big Scrum – How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football' with Professor John J. Miller

    Send us a text Professor John J. Miller is the director of the Dow Program in American Journalism at Hillsdale College and one of the nation’s most respected literary journalists. A regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, he previously spent many years as a writer and podcaster for National Review. Miller is also the founder and executive director of the Student Free Press Association, the non-profit organization behind The College Fix, which supports and promotes collegiate journalism. The Chronicle of Higher Education has described him as “one of the best literary journalists in the country,” a reputation reflected in his body of work. He is the author of several books, including The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football, which explores the surprising truths behind presidential intervention that helped shape the sport’s modern identity and the topic of today discussion.      01:20 – Journey into Journalism and What Inspired Writing: The Big Scrum 06:00 - Walter Camp and Theodore Roosevelt History with Football  10:30 – Early Violence and Brutality of Football & Charles Elliot’s Dislike for Football 17:40 – The Introduction of the Forward Pass 24:00 – Fights, Yale vs Harvard and the Flying Wedge 27:00 – Moments in Researching the Big Scrum 32:40 – Walter Camps Wife and Football 34:10 – Where You Can Find and Support Professor Miller Twitter/x: @heymiller https://www.heymiller.com/

    38 min

  2. JAN 6

    Academic Integrity and Fraudulent Research with Dr Elisabeth Bik

    Send us a text Welcome back to HeadFirst: A Concussion Podcast.  Today we have the honour and privilege of welcoming Dr Elisabeth Bik. Trained originally as a microbiologist, Dr Elisabeth Bik has become a global authority on research ethics and scientific credibility. She is best known for her meticulous investigations into altered images and questionable data practices in academic publishing. Her work has flagged potential problems in thousands of research papers and has played a role in more than a thousand formal retractions tied to compromised scientific standards. Beyond her investigative impact, Dr Bik’s own research has been widely cited, and her efforts to safeguard the integrity of science have been recognised with several prestigious international honours. Now working independently, she advises on research integrity while continuing to advocate for transparency and ethical responsibility across the scientific world.   01:59 – Dr Elisabeth Bik Journey into Microbiology and Plagiarism 04:44 – Why is Scientific Integrity Important and Why Should We Care? 07:44 – Reasons People Fabricate Result 10:54 – Choosing Research to Sleuth and Common Fabrications 15:44 – Process When Investigating Paper’s 18:53 – Biggest Case Dr Bik Has Worked on and Personal Attacks / Push Back 26:14 – Collateral Damage of Fabricated Research 29:49 – What Questions to ask About ‘Catchy’ Headline’s? 33:14 – How We Can Support and Help Dr Bik’s Work   Dr Elisabeth Bik X/Twitter: @MicrobiomDigest Patreon.com/elisabethbik Website: https://scienceintegritydigest.com/about/

    35 min

  3. 12/30/2025

    Best of 2025 Part 4: Concussion — Athletes Perspective and Experiences

    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 featuring athlete’s perspective and experiences with concussion, this episode brings the best of it all together.    Best of Episode 4: Athlete  02:20 - Andy Clarke - Episode 87: How Knock Differs from Other Sports  06:00 - Robbie O’Davis - Episode 106: Robbie’O Grand Final Dance 09:50 - Wally Lewis - Episode 73: Concussion Overtime + Awareness and Education 16:30 - Ian Roberts - Episode 63: Culture Over Time and Playing Experiences  22:00 - Hamish Brayshaw - Episode 78: The Open Letter to the AFL  24:10 - Will Schofield - Episode 79: Unrealistic Expectations of a Player 27:17 - Ian Greener - Episode 90: FA Guidelines and Old vs New Balls

    32 min

  4. 12/23/2025

    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

  5. 12/16/2025

    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

  6. 12/09/2025

    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

  7. 12/02/2025

    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

  8. 11/25/2025

    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
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast
  • Show Website
    Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast