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

    Concussion Advocacy and Concussed: Sport's Uncomfortable Truth with Sam Peters

    Send us Fan Mail Sam has spent over two decades in sports journalism and is widely recognised for his work in rugby and athlete welfare. He led what was, at the time, a groundbreaking media campaign on concussion in rugby, earning a nomination for the Cudlipp Prize in 2014. Among his many accolades—including nominations for Rugby Journalist of the Year and Investigative Reporter of the Year—Sam is also the author of the award-winning book Concussed: Sport's Uncomfortable Truth, which won the Pinsent Masons Sports Writing Award and was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.   01:10 - How Was Concussed: Sport's Uncomfortable Truth Received 04:48 – Concussion Advocacy 11:15 – Ethical Codes: Example ‘Blood Gate’ 15:30 – Strategies of Conveying a Clear Message  20:00 – Return to Learn and Life  22:20 – How the Public Receive the Message  25:30 – Litigation Against World Rugby  33:35 – Favorited Moments from Sport & Journalism    Twitter/x: @plantedSam  https://www.concussed.media    Subscribe, review and share for new episodes which will drop fortnightly  Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    37 min

  2. APR 28

    Prelude to a Crisis: A History of Sports-Related Concussion Research and the Influence of Neuropsychology with Assistant Teaching Professor, Owen Griffith

    Send us Fan Mail Owen’s work focuses on the neuropsychological mechanisms underpinning sports-related traumatic brain injury. His research explores how concussion impacts functional behaviour, cognition, and broader mental health and well-being. Prelude to a Crisis: A History of Sports-Related Concussion Research and the Influence of Neuropsychology, co-authored with Jamie Schultz.  01:15 - Sports History and Concussion 08:00 - Biocultural Perspective in Sports-Related Concussion. 13:25 - History and Emergence of Neuropsychology in Concussion 17:25 – The SLAM Model 21:30 – Divergence of Concussion and Time Points Pre/Pots Bennet Omalu 26:00 - What Has ‘Concussion Crisis’ History Taught Us   28:00 – Addressing Concussion as an Athlete and Researcher on Concussion  31:20 – How to Convey the Message Regarding Concussion 35:22 - Favourite Moment’s in Sport  39:45 - Where Can People Find You and Help Your Research   Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    42 min

  3. APR 21

    Participation in Professional American-Style Football and Suicide Mortality: 1979–2019 with Dr Rachel Grashow

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Grashow is a senior research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of Epidemiological Research Initiatives for the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University. Her work focuses on the long-term health effects of sport—particularly concussion and repetitive head impacts—in elite athletes.  01:50 – Pretext: What is Concussion and CTE 03:20 - Participation in Professional American-Style Football and Suicide Mortality: 1979–2019: Reasoning behind looking at this data 05:50 – Main Findings of The Study 10:50 –Stigma of Concussion and Mental Health Challenges 12:30 – Trends and Explanation Between Sports 17:00 – Caregiver Burden and Effect on Wife’s  21:00 – Frequent Concerns and Reports from Caregivers  25:00 – Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Professional Athlete Population 28:00 – Assessing and Data Collection of Caregivers 33:30 –Testosterone Levels in Athletes   Episode 82: Perceived Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Suicidality in Former Professional Football Players (NFL) With Dr Rachel Grashow   Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    43 min

  4. APR 14

    From Professional NRL Player to Elite NRL Referee with Henry Perenara

    Send us Fan Mail Henry Perenara played over 70 matches in the NRL at club level and also represented New Zealand internationally. Following his playing career, he transitioned into officiating, making his first-grade refereeing debut in 2011. He went on to officiate more than 200 matches, including international fixtures such as the Four Nations and the Rugby League World Cup.  01:10 - Henry Perenara Journey into Rugby League 05:10 – Hardest Part Transitioning Form a Player to Referee 11:00 – Man Management of Players and the Media 13:10 – What Was Expected of a Referee Regarding Player Welfare 16:10 – Difficulty of Making Split Second Decisions  20:00 – Transitioning from Two Referee’s to One in Covid-19 25:50 – Impact and Toll of Covid-19 Season  32:15 – Differences Between Refereeing Club vs World Cup 37:05 – How Does the Bunker Work 40:36 – Favourite Moments as a Player and Referee  42:45 – Henry’s Heart Condition and Where to Find Him   Henry Perenara  https://www.smartmove.com.au/our-team/henry-perenara/   Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    52 min

  5. APR 7

    Combat Sports and the Integration of AI in Concussion Management with M2MMA General Manager Chris Cannon

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Chris Cannon.  Chris is the General Manager of M2MMA, a combat sports organisation using artificial intelligence to improve athlete wellbeing across physical, psychological, and financial domains. A key focus is reducing major risks in the sport—particularly weight cutting and concussion (mild traumatic brain injury), which is the focus of today’s discussion. 01:14 - Chris’s Journey into M2MMA  05:50 - What is M2MMA & How is AI involved? 08:52 – What Data is Being Collected? 13:40 – Protection of Data 14:50 – Athlete Perception’s to Data Collection 18:00 – Examples of Data Collection 20:40 – Understanding the Whole Issue 26:45 – Outside Perception on AI Tracking from Other Sports 30:45 – Chris’s Favourite Sporting Moment and Moving Forward in Sport M2MMA:  Website: https://m2mma.com IG: @m2mmaofficial and @cccannon10 Facebook: M2MMA Official   Social media: Twitter: @firstconcussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    39 min

  6. MAR 31

    Motorsport Concussion Policy and Practice with FIM Medical Director Dr David McManus

    Send us Fan Mail Dr McManus is the Medical Director of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, overseeing world-class competitions including MotoGP, motocross, and superbike racing. He also leads the FIM International Medical Commission, driving global standards in medical care and rider safety. With a background in sports and emergency medicine, Dr McManus is a key figure in advancing injury surveillance and concussion management in high-speed motorsport, helping shape best-practice care for elite riders worldwide.   01:30 - Journey into Medicine and Motorsport’s       04:00 - What is FIM? 07:10 – History of Concussion Guidelines in Motorsports 10:55 - What is a concussion and Significance? 16:30 – Acceptance of Concussion Policies Amongst Athlete's 18:40 – Publishing and Implementation of Concussion Guidelines 26:00 – When to Respect Autonomy and When to in Force Protocol  33:45 – Removal from the Track for An Assessment  39:40 – General Things We Should Know About Motorsports and Concussion FIM: https://www.fim-moto.com/en/   Guidelines https://www.fim-moto.com/en/news/news-detail/article/fim-launches-motorcycle-sport-specific-concussion-assessment-and-management-guidelines Professor Jon Patricios – Concussion in Sports Group: Episode 65      Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    47 min

  7. MAR 24

    From AFL to WAFL and Concussion with Former AFL Player Tom Ledger

    Send us Fan Mail Tom had an outstanding junior career, winning state championships for Western Australia and multiple league best and fairest awards. He was drafted to St Kilda in 2010, spending three seasons at the club and playing with Sandringham in the VFL. He later returned to WA, becoming a key player for Claremont over eight seasons in the WAFL. Off the field, Tom completed a law degree and now works as a Special Counsel at Pragma Lawyers in Perth. 01:30 - Journey into Sports and Experiences of the AFL Draft 04:50 – Process Once Drafted 06:30 – Experience of Being In ‘AFL System’ and First Game  08:12 – Comparison of AFL to State Level 10:28 – Head Injury Assessment and Experiences  12:50 – Confounding Factors of Playing Through Injuries 14:40 – Attitude Now Towards Concussion Now 15:55 – Changes in Playing Style 17:47 – Perception Changed on Concussion? 19:50 - Favourite Memories of Career 21:50 – Transition from AFL to Everyday Life 23:00 – Where to Find Tom Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    24 min

  8. MAR 17

    Understanding Concussion, Phenotypes and Rehabilitation with Concussion Nerds Founder Natasha Wilch

    Send us Fan Mail Natasha is a registered physical therapist with more than a decade of clinical experience. She holds degrees in Health Science and Kinesiology, along with a Master’s in Physical Therapy from the University of British Columbia. Over the course of her career, she has developed specialised expertise in concussion recovery, neurological rehabilitation, chronic pain management, vestibular therapy, and functional neurology. She is the founder of Symphony Brain Performance, a clinic that has become a sought-after destination for individuals seeking specialised care for concussion and brain health. Natasha’s innovative work has earned significant recognition, including Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Physiotherapist Leadership Award of British Columbia, and Vancouver Island’s Top 20 Under 40 Business and Community Achievement Award. She has also recently been nominated for the Women of Influence Award. In addition to her clinical work, Natasha is the founder and host of the Concussion Nerds podcast and program, where she shares insights and conversations focused on brain health, concussion recovery, and performance.   01:35 - How Natasha Become a Physical Therapist 05:30 - Integration into Concussion Rehabilitation  12:50 - What is a Concussion? 16:40 - What are the Phenotypes of Concussion?  22:00 - Approach in Treating Concussion/ Misconceptions 30:00 – Psychology and Terminology of Concussion 37:35 – Myths Around Concussion 42:55 – Rewards of Natasha’s Job 44:30 - Where Can People Find Concussion Nerds and Natasha     Concussion Nerds – Natasha Wilch  https://www.natasha-wilch.com/concussion-nerds Podcast: The Concussion Nerds Podcast – Spotify/ Apple  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natasha.wilch.concussioncoach/   IG: @natash.wilch & @concussionnerds  YouTube: @NatashaWilch-ConcussionNerd Subscribe, review and share for new episodes which will drop fortnightly   Social media: Twitter: @first concussion Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion   Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

    59 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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast
  • Show Website
    Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast