Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

Dr Reece Granger BSc (Hons), BChiro

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. 5d ago

    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

  2. Sep 15

    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

  3. Sep 8

    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

  4. Aug 25

    Performance of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome Criteria in Identifying Individuals with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy with Dr John Arena

    Send us Fan Mail Dr. Arena is a neurosurgeon at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in the intersection of clinical neurosurgery, neurotrauma, and neurodegenerative disease. He has authored more than 54 publications in these fields. Before medicine, he was an accomplished football player at Johns Hopkins University, where he played linebacker in every game of his college career, helped lead the Blue Jays to a 28–6 record, and served as team captain in 2013. Academically, he maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA as a neuroscience major and was named the 2013 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and Capital One Academic All-America Player of the Year for Division III football.     02:20 - Journey from football into medicine, neurosurgery.  05:10 - What is CTE and TES/ Probable CTE  14:48 - Lead author on “Performance of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome criteria in identifying individuals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy” 23:40 – Where to Research Wise 27:23 – Nocebo Effect 31:00 – Where too Find Assistant Professor John Arena   Assistant Professor John Arena: -       Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBLzm34AAAAJ&hl=en -       Performance of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome criteria in identifying individuals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04392-9   Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

  5. Aug 18

    Monologue: The Cost of Consent - Concussion, Vocation and the Assumption of Risk

    Send us Fan Mail This episode picks up where our last one left off, brief update new developments in the Geelong concussion waiver case. But the real focus is bigger than one club: we're unpacking what "they accept the risk" actually means, why professional sport gets treated as a calling rather than a job, and what that costs players when it comes to consent, tax structures, and basic workplace protection. We'll hold both sides of that argument up fairly, and test it against how any other Australian workplace would be judged for doing the same thing.     03:44 – New Developments 08:44 – The Debate on Player Accepting the Risk  14:27 – Vocation vs Job Perspective in Sport 20:29 – Taxation and Financial Structures in Professional Sports 23:20 – Workers Compensation and Athlete Protections 28:10 – Taxation and Risk 32:53 - Comparative Analysis of Workplace Safety and Sports 38:51 – Conclusion     REFERENCE LIST 1. “Geelong to face significant financial sanction over concussion waiver.” SEN, 8 August 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/08/08/afl-2026-afl-ceo-andrew-dillon-speaks-on-geelongs-secret-concussion-waiver-with-jake-kolodjashnij 2. “Timeline becomes clearer as Geelong Cats prepare response to AFL's please explain over Jake Kolodjashnij concussion waiver.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1582383/timeline-becomes-clearer-as-geelong-cats-prepare-response-to-afls-please-explain-over-jake-kolodjashnij-concussion-waiver 3. “Geelong ‘welcomes’ AFL please explain as captain responds to concussion waiver debacle.” Yahoo Sport Australia / Zero Hanger. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/geelong-welcomes-afl-please-explain-013608927.html ; https://www.zerohanger.com/geelong-cats-patrick-dangerfield-captain-responds-to-concussion-waiver-debacle-backs-in-ceo-181057/ 4. “Cats board hold crisis meeting over concussion deal.” AAP, via Inverell Times / Moree Champion. https://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/9327256/cats-board-hold-crisis-meeting-over-concussion-deal/ 5. “Cats board meets to discuss concussion controversy.” K ROCK 95.5. https://www.krock.com.au/national/geelong-cats/cats-board-meets-to-discuss-concussion-controversy/ 6. “AFL delivers fresh concussion saga statement.” Zero Hanger, 11 August 2026 (Andrew Dillon's 'club obligations' memo; Craig Drummond's full statement). https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-delivers-fresh-concussion-saga-statement-181096/ 7. Nichol, Matt. “Not-for-profit organisations and the tax status of professional sport: Revisiting the exemption status of the Australian Football League and its clubs.” CQUniversity. https://acquire.cqu.edu.au/articles/journal_contribution/Not-for-profit_organisations_and_the_tax_status_of_professional_sport_Revisiting_the_exemption_status_of_the_Australian_Football_League_and_its_clubs/28755494 8. Nichol, Matt. “Australia's major sports codes are considered not-for-profits – is it time for them to pay up?” The Conversation / CQUniversity. https://theconversation.com/australias-major-sports-codes-are-considered-not-for-profits-is-it-time-for-them-to-pay-up-250914 9. “Sporting organisations.” Australian Taxation Office (confirms sporting tax-exemption category distinct from registered charity status). https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/not-for-profit-organisations/your-organisation/does-your-not-for-profit-need-to-pay-income-tax/types-of-income-tax-exempt-organisations/sporting-organisations 10. Windholz, Eric. “Why sports stars get less support than other injured workers – and how we can fix it.” Monash Lens / The Conversation. https://lens.monash.edu/why-sports-stars-get-less-support-than-other-injured-workers-and-how-we-can-fix-it/ ; https://theconversation.com/why-sports-stars-get-less-support-than-other-injured-workers-and-how-we-can-fix-it-200702 11. “Injured sports stars are not entitled to workers' compensation. How we can fix the problem.” SmartCompany (Eric Windholz). https://www.smartcompany.com.au/people-human-resources/injured-sports-stars-not-entitled-workers-compensation/ 12. Windholz, Eric. “Professional athletes and injury insurance: A better way forward.” Sport, Business and Management, 2025. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1037969X251337131 13. “The future of injury insurance and workers' compensation in Australian sport.” Monash University Faculty of Law. https://www.monash.edu/law/news/articles/2021/the-future-of-injury-insurance-and-workers-compensation-in-australian-sport 14. “WHS and pro athletes: the next frontier in regulation.” Citation Group. https://citationgroup.com.au/resources/whs-and-the-professional-athlete-the-final-frontier-for-workplace-regulation/ 15. “Chapter 4: Coverage and eligibility for benefits” and “Table 4.4: Treatment of sportspersons and sporting injuries.” Safe Work Australia. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/comparison-wc-arrangements-29ed/chapter-4 ; https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/book/comparison-workers-compensation-arrangements-australia-and-new-zealand-2021-28th-edition/chapter-4-coverage-and-eligibility-benefits/table-44-treatment-sportspersons-and-sporting-injuries 16. Riewoldt, Nick. “What happens during AFL contract negotiations?” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/16111020/nick-riewoldt-happens-afl-contract-negotiations 17. Riewoldt, Nick. “My experiences with concussion.” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/15180632/my-experiences-concussion 18. “Don't knock concussion protocols: Riewoldt.” AFL Players' Association. https://www.aflplayers.com.au/news-feed/stories/dont-knock-concussion-protocols-riewoldt

  6. Aug 11

    Monologue: The AFL’s Concussion Waiver Scandal

    Send us Fan Mail NOTE: This episode reports on matters covered in the media and public statements; it does not allege guilt or wrongdoing by any individual or organisation named. Information is current as of recording and may have changed since. A factual look at the AFL's 2026 concussion-waiver case involving Geelong and Jake Kolodjashnij: what the reporting shows happened, how the AFL and AFLPA responded, and what it raises about consent, governance, and accountability in professional sport. 04:00 - Introduction to Episode  06:30 - What is Said to Allegedly Happen 13:45 - Geelong’s Own Clubs Doctors  20:10 – The Money Question 24:00 – Is there Double Standards with Hollands Case and Port Adelaide? 29:35 – Risk to the Player  35:10 - Consent in Professional Sport 40:16 – 2001 CISG/ Jordan Lewis Concussion  44:50 – Athletes Can Not See Past Next Week    REFERENCE LIST1. Clark, Jay. Report via CODE Sports (video), summarised in “Shock concussion report as club's ‘secret deal’ with player sets ‘dangerous example’,” AFL Daily / NewsBeep, 2026. https://www.newsbeep.com/au/844998/ 2. “AFL club had secret concussion deal with player: report.” AAP, syndicated via Newcastle Herald. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/9325028/afl-club-had-secret-concussion-deal-with-player-report/ 3. Edmund, Sam. “Revealed: Victorian giants named in secret concussion deal.” SEN, August 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/08/05/afl-news-concussion-bombshell-secret-deal-afl-aflpa 4. “AFL and AFLPA release statement: Victorian club at centre of secret concussion deal revealed.” Zero Hanger, 2026. https://www.zerohanger.com/victorian-club-at-centre-of-concussion-deal-revealed-180859/ 5. “Geelong avoids sanction over player concussion deal.” AAP wire report. https://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/9325028/geelong-avoids-sanction-over-player-concussion-deal/ 6. “Geelong Cats receive please explain letter from AFL over concussion deal.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1578601/geelong-cats-receive-please-explain-letter-from-afl-over-concussion-deal 7. “Cat identifies himself as concussion waiver player.” AAP, via Moree Champion. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326238/cat-identifies-himself-as-concussion-waiver-player/ 8. “Geelong's Jake Kolodjashnij outs himself as player who signed AFL concussion waiver.” Guardian Australia via AOL. https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/geelong-jake-kolodjashnij-outs-himself-091217000.html 9. “Top-six hunting Cats coach kept out of concussion case.” AAP, via Moree Champion / Inverell Times. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326222/top-six-hunting-cats-coach-kept-out-of-concussion-case/ 10. “I apologise for the mistakes made: AFL Chair Craig Drummond sorry for Jake Kolodjashnij affair while he was president of Geelong Cats.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1578906/i-apologise-for-the-mistakes-made-afl-chair-craig-drummond-sorry-for-jake-kolodjashnij-affair-while-he-was-president-of-geelong-cats 11. “AFL chairman, CEO break silence on Cats concussion saga.” AAP, via Moree Champion / Inverell Times / Katherine Times. https://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/9326329/afl-chairman-ceo-break-silence-on-cats-concussion-saga/ 12. “Caroline Wilson grills Andrew Dillon over Geelong concussion saga.” 3AW. https://www.3aw.com.au/caroline-wilson-grills-andrew-dillon-over-geelong-concussion-saga/ 13. “AFL CEO Andrew Dillon speaks on Geelong-concussion-deal saga, potential punishments.” Zero Hanger. https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-ceo-andrew-dillon-speaks-on-geelong-concussion-deal-saga-potential-punishments-180967 14. “AFL club Geelong under scrutiny over alleged concussion deal with player.” AOL / PA Media. https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/afl-club-geelong-under-scrutiny-063851000.html 15. Rooke v Australian Football League & Geelong Football Club, Third Party Notice, Supreme Court of Victoria, filed 18 September 2025 (Geelong's claim against twelve named former club doctors: Hugh Seward, Peter Larkins, Andrew Irwin, Chris Bradshaw, Geoff Allen, Drew Slimmon, David Long, James McLaren, Peter Ryan, Gregory Lindquist, Jeanne McGivern, Kendall Brooks). https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/Rooke%20-%20Third%20Party%20Notice%20%5BRedacted%5D.pdf 16. “Australian Court Dismisses, In Part, Concussion Claim Against AFL.” Sports Litigation Alert. https://sportslitigationalert.com/australian-court-dismisses-in-part-concussion-claim-against-afl/ 17. “2023 Geelong Football Club season.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Geelong_Football_Club_season 18. “Jake Kolodjashnij.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Kolodjashnij 19. “Kade Kolodjashnij.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kade_Kolodjashnij 20. “Clubs to get cap relief for medically retired players.” AFL.com.au, June 2024. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1153880/clubs-to-get-cap-relief-for-medically-retired-players 21. “AFL grants club relief for concussed, medically retired players.” Zero Hanger, June 2024. https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-grants-club-relief-for-concussed-medically-retired-players-152023/ 22. “AFL bans new Blue for illicit drugs policy breach.” AFL.com.au, Nov 2023. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1064667/afl-bans-new-carlton-blues-recruit-elijah-hollands-for-illicit-drugs-policy-breach 23. “Hollands victim of mental health episode, not substance related.” SEN, April 2026. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/04/17/afl-2026-carlton-elijah-hollands-vision-collingwood-game-concerning-footage 24. “Carlton cop big fine from AFL for Hollands mishandling.” ESPN, May 2026. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/48682566/afl-news-carlton-elijah-hollands 25. “Blues speak after copping hefty fine for Hollands affair.” AFL.com.au, May 2026. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1513236/afl-announces-outcome-of-investigation-into-elijah-hollands-for-carlton-blues-against-collingwood-magpies 26. “Power hit with huge AFL fine over concussion error.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/38130230/afl-port-adelaide 27. “Nigel Lappin.” Wikipedia; “Lions get Lappin up for '03 Grand Final despite broken ribs.” AFL.com.au. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Lappin ; https://www.afl.com.au/news/89240/lions-get-lappin-up-for-03-grand-final-despite-broken-ribs 28. “2004 AFL Grand Final.” Grokipedia. https://grokipedia.com/page/2004_AFL_Grand_Final 29. “Trent Croad.” Wikipedia; “Injury forces Croad into retirement.” Hawthorn FC. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Croad ; https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/759776/injury-forces-croad-into-retirement 30. “Bulldogs veteran plays down broken back.” ESPN, 2016. https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/17690413/bulldogs-veteran-plays-broken-back 31. “Bulldog defender played finals series with a broken back.” AFL.com.au, 2016. https://www.afl.com.au/news/59655/bulldog-defender-played-finals-series-with-a-broken-back 32. “Bulldogs' bionic man retires after remarkable 15-year career.” AFL.com.au, 2019. https://www.afl.com.au/news/133337/bulldogs-bionic-man-dale-morris-retires-after-remarkable-career 33. “‘Would like to know why’: AFL questioned over failed intervention during major concussion.” Zero Hanger, 2026. https://www.zerohanger.com/would-like-to-know-why-afl-questioned-over-failed-intervention-during-major-concussion-179113 34. “Timeline of how the AFL has addressed concussion.” AFL.com.au. https://www.afl.com.au/concussion/timeline 35. “Ex-AFL player challenges league over concussion compensation.” Insurance Business Australia. https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/au/news/workers-compensation/exafl-player-challenges-league-over-concussion-compensation-574064.aspx 36. “Former Western Bulldog Aiden O'Driscoll not giving up on AFL dream.” The Nightly, 2025. https://thenightly.com.au/sport/afl/former-western-bulldog-aiden-odriscoll-not-giving-up-on-afl-dream-seeks-second-opinion-on-medical-retirement-c-18273634 37. “Duties and Loyalties of AFL Club Doctors: A Hopeless Conflict of Interest.” Polaris Lawyers. https://www.polarislawyers.com.au/legal-compass/duties-and-loyalties-of-afl-club-doctors-a-hopeless-conflict-of-interest 38. “Why the AFL Is Its Own Worst Enemy When It Comes to Concussions, Tribunals and Player Safety.” Melbourne Sports Law Association. https://www.melbournesla.com/sports-law-forum/q7spsuhe52wr7fajn5qlvlxpl1xrn8 39. “AFL rules out using neutral doctors during games.” ESPN. https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/40135833/afl-rules-neutral-independent-doctors-jeremy-cameron-concussion 40. “'Additional safeguard': AFL makes concussion changes.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/48107582/afl-concussion-changes-lawsuit-arc-doctors 41. “Concussion sufferers launch class action against AFL.” ESPN. https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/35854961/afl-sued-former-players-class-action-concussion 42. Deubert, Christopher R., and I. Glenn Cohen. “Club Doctors.” Football Players Health Study, Harvard Law School. https://footballplayershealth.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/07_Ch2_Club_Docs.pdf 43. “Goldman's dilemma.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldman's_dilemma 44. Connor, J., et al. “Would they dope? Revisiting the Goldman dilemma.” British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.n

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.

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