The HeadRush Podcast with Paul Frase

RNCN
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Biweekly

The HeadRush Podcast with Paul Frase takes you inside the reality of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) through the lens of football. With firsthand experience in one of the most punishing sports, Paul shares stories, the lasting effects of head trauma, and the fight for awareness and support.

  1. 6d ago

    Rodrick Walker: The Comeback, the Hits & the Power of Showing Up

    At 17, Rodrick Walker thought a shattered ankle had ended his football future. What helped him come back went beyond rehab—it was the people who refused to let him face it alone. One play shattered his ankle. The isolation afterward shook his confidence. But Rodrick Walker’s story didn’t end on that field. Follow The HeadRush Podcast for honest conversations about brain health, resilience, and finding hope. Then share this episode with a parent, coach, or someone working through a setback. Rodrick joins Paul Frase to revisit the injury that wiped out his senior high school season, a hospital visit from Roger Staubach, and the support that helped him return to football and eventually lead the Texas Longhorns in rushing. He also recalls a punishing hit that left him seeing stars—and heading straight back to the huddle. Together, Paul and Rodrick discuss football’s approach to head impacts, youth coaching, and the responsibility adults have to protect young athletes. Beyond football, Rodrick shares his work through the Rodrick Walker Foundation and the message he brings to young people: a setback doesn’t have to determine what happens next. You can still “curve up.” Learn more about The Rodrick Walker Foundation and its community work:https://therodrickwalkerfoundation.org/ Support the HeadRush Foundation’s mission to advance brain injury education, awareness, and access to support. Follow, share, and help these conversations reach the families who need them. Thank you to our sponsors:• Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — raising awareness about repetitive head impacts and CTE.• Millennium Health Centers / Millennium Health Store — Dr. Mark Gordon and his team.• Paradise Behavioral Health — the BrainWell Program.• MC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S.• Ambio Life Sciences — learn more at ambio.life.• Vielight, Inc. — a proud sponsor of The HeadRush Podcast. Use our discount code HEADRUSHVL. How to cope. How to find hope. #TheRodrickWalkerFoundation

    Rodrick Walker: The Comeback, the Hits & the Power of Showing Up

  2. Sep 22

    From “Walking Dead” to Alive: Nicholas LaDuke’s Road Back

    Professional saddle bronc rider Nicholas LaDuke knew something was wrong—he no longer felt like himself. Brain imaging gave him answers, but changing how he lived gave him hope. Professional saddle bronc rider Nicholas LaDuke reached a point where he felt “walking dead.” Years of physical punishment, cognitive struggles and declining mental health had left him searching for answers. Nicholas joins Paul Frase and Corey Berry to discuss what his SPECT brain scans revealed and how nutrition, reducing sugar, exercise, faith and other lifestyle changes became part of his personal journey forward. He also explains why receiving tangible evidence of his brain’s condition helped him stop guessing and begin rebuilding his life. Today, Nicholas is still competing—and says he feels more alive than he did four years ago. Follow The HeadRush Podcast and share this episode with someone searching for answers, understanding or hope after brain trauma. Please support the mission of the HeadRush Foundation as we continue raising awareness, sharing resources and helping people affected by repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injuries. Our Sponsors Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — Learn more about repetitive head impacts and CTE prevention at StopCTE.orgMillennium Health Centers and Millennium StoreParadise Behavioral Health – Brain Well ProgramMC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-SAmbio Life SciencesVielight, Inc. — Use discount code HEADRUSHVLThis episode shares Nicholas LaDuke’s personal experiences and opinions. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    From “Walking Dead” to Alive: Nicholas LaDuke’s Road Back

  3. Sep 15

    Beyond “Rest and Wait”: Alex Smith, Dr. Michael Wyand and the Search for a Concussion Treatment

    A century of medical progress—and concussion patients are still largely told to rest and wait. Could OXE103 help change that? Former NFL quarterback Alex Smith and Oxeia Biopharmaceuticals CEO Dr. Michael Wyand join Paul Frase to examine one of the largest gaps in brain-injury care: the lack of an FDA-approved medication for concussion. Alex shares what concussions looked and felt like during his 16-year NFL career—and why his experiences led him to join Oxeia’s Board of Directors. Dr. Wyand explains what happens inside the brain following a concussion, the science behind OXE103, and why its early Phase 2a results justified taking the research into a larger, controlled Phase 2b trial. The conversation explores why “rest and wait” is not enough, what scientists still need to prove, and what an effective treatment could mean for athletes, veterans, accident survivors, children and families living with persistent concussion symptoms. OXE103 is investigational and has not been approved by the FDA. This episode is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical or investment advice. Sponsors This episode is presented in partnership with Oxeia Biopharmaceuticals: oxeiabiopharma.com The HeadRush Podcast proudly recognizes the support of: Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation: stopcte.orgMillennium Health Centers: tbihelpnow.orgMillennium Health Store: millenniumhealthstore.comParadise Behavioral Health – Brain Well Program: paradisebehavioral.com/brainwellMC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-SAmbio Life Sciences: ambio.lifeVielight, Inc.: vielight.com — Use discount code HEADRUSHVLPlease support the HeadRush Foundation as it expands brain-health education, resources, treatment access and hope for individuals and families affected by brain injury.

    Beyond “Rest and Wait”: Alex Smith, Dr. Michael Wyand and the Search for a Concussion Treatment

  4. Sep 8

    From Complex Data to a Clear Plan: Dr. Mizyl Damayo’s Precision Psychiatry System

    The problem was not a lack of information. It was turning that information into something a patient—especially one experiencing cognitive impairment—could understand and follow. Dr. Mizyl Damayo has built a system that combines genetics, laboratory results, hormones, inflammation markers, nutrition, medical history, and lifestyle factors into one clear, personalized roadmap. Precision medicine is only useful if the patient can understand and act on it. In Paul Frase’s first solo episode as host of The HeadRush Podcast, Dr. Mizyl Damayo returns to reveal the precision-psychiatry system she spent months building from years of clinical knowledge and patient experience. Dr. Damayo regularly works with professional athletes, individuals affected by brain trauma, and patients struggling with complicated mental-health symptoms. Her challenge was clear: how could she take an overwhelming amount of medical information and turn it into a plan that patients and caregivers could realistically manage? Working with her brother and using AI-assisted tools, Dr. Damayo developed a system that brings genetics, laboratory results, inflammation, hormones, metabolism, nutrition, exercise, environmental exposures, and medical history together in one place. Using Paul’s health information as a live demonstration, she shows how the system can produce: • A personalized genetic and laboratory analysis• Prioritized areas of concern• An individualized supplement schedule• Nutrition, meal, and grocery plans• Gradual fasting and exercise protocols• Short-form and detailed treatment summaries• Video explanations and exercise demonstrations• A 90-day roadmap with daily checklists The episode also explores why patients cannot be treated according to one gene, one laboratory result, or one symptom. Dr. Damayo explains how genetic variants can interact, why a supplement that helps one person may create problems for another, and why treatment must remain individualized. Most importantly, this system is designed to make complicated information usable—especially for patients experiencing memory problems, brain fog, executive-function difficulties, or cognitive impairment. Paul’s results provide the example. Dr. Damayo’s ability to connect the information and translate it into an understandable plan is the real story. Follow The HeadRush Podcast and share this episode with an athlete, veteran, caregiver, healthcare professional, or anyone searching for a clearer approach to brain and mental health. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS • Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — Providing education and resources to help families understand, live with, and prevent CTE and damage caused by repeated head impacts. Learn more at https://stopcte.org. • Millennium Health Centers — Advancing individualized approaches to brain health, neuroinflammation, hormonal disruption, and cognitive and mental wellness through the Millennium Protocol. Learn more at https://tbihelpnow.org. • Millennium Health Store — Offering products developed to support brain health, cognition, cellular function, and the body’s response to inflammation. Visit https://millenniumhealthstore.com. • Paradise Behavioral Health — Brain Well Program — Providing personalized brain- and behavioral-health care guided by genetics, hormones, biomarkers, medical history, and environmental factors. Learn more at https://paradisebehavioral.com. • MC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S — Providing mental-health counseling, education, and support for individuals, families, veterans, first responders, and others navigating trauma and behavioral-health challenges. • Ambio Life Sciences — Providing medically supervised ibogaine programs and contributing to emerging research involving addiction, trauma, traumatic brain injury, and complex neurological conditions. Ibogaine remains experimental and is not approved as a treatment for neurodegenerative disease. Learn more at https://ambio.life. • Vielight, Inc. — Advancing transcranial and intranasal photobiomodulation technology designed to support brain wellness. Use discount code HEADRUSHVL when purchasing through Vielight: https://vielight.com.

    From Complex Data to a Clear Plan: Dr. Mizyl Damayo’s Precision Psychiatry System

  5. Sep 1

    Ray Lewis III’s Legacy: A Mother’s Mission to Protect Young Athletes

    After losing her son Ray Anthony Lewis III, Tiana McCall Wimberley transformed unimaginable grief into a mission to protect other families through CTE education, informed consent, and the RL3 Foundation. Tiana McCall Wimberley joins Paul Frase and former co-host Corey Berry to share the life and legacy of her son, Ray Anthony Lewis III—affectionately known as Ray Ray. Tiana opens up about raising her sons in a football family, what she wishes she had understood about repeated head impacts, and how Ray Ray’s CTE diagnosis changed the direction of her life. She also discusses the difficult decisions families face when children want to play contact sports, why awareness must extend beyond diagnosed concussions, and how her surviving sons now approach football differently. Through the RL3 Foundation, Tiana and her family are carrying forward Ray Ray’s love of children, football, music, and people. Their work includes CTE education, mental-health awareness, prevention grants for high-school football programs, community events, and advocacy for stronger informed-consent protections in youth sports. This is a deeply personal conversation about grief, faith, accountability, and a mother’s determination to ensure that her son’s life—and his death—lead to meaningful change. Production note: This previously recorded episode features Corey Berry and was filmed before his departure from The HeadRush Podcast. Learn more about the RL3 Foundation at RL3Foundation.com. Podcast Sponsors The HeadRush Podcast proudly recognizes: Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — Learn about repeated head impacts, CTE prevention, family resources, and brain-healthy teams at StopCTE.org.Millennium Health Centers — Helping veterans, athletes, first responders, and others address the underlying effects of brain trauma through the Millennium Protocol. Visit TBIHelpNow.org.Millennium Health StoreParadise Behavioral Health — BrainWell Program — Led by Dr. Maizel DeMaio and focused on personalized approaches to brain and behavioral health. Visit ParadiseBehavioral.com.MC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-SAmbio Life Sciences — Learn more about its work with ibogaine and neurodegenerative conditions at Ambio.life.Vielight, Inc. — A leader in transcranial and intranasal photobiomodulation technology. Use discount code HEADRUSHVL when purchasing through Vielight.

    Ray Lewis III’s Legacy: A Mother’s Mission to Protect Young Athletes

  6. Aug 25

    After the NFL: The Fight for Care, Benefits & Accountability

    They helped build the NFL. Now some former players are fighting just to get the care, benefits and answers they believe they were promised. Nearly a decade into the NFL concussion settlement, members of the NFL Player Advocacy Committee say retired players and their families are still navigating delays, denials, medical reviews, legal complexity and a system many struggle to understand. So who fights for the players when they can no longer fight for themselves? That last sentence is especially important because Roxanne describes wives becoming advocates after seeing players with brain injuries who could no longer effectively advocate for themselves. Former NFL players spent years putting their bodies—and their brains—on the line for the game. But what happens after football ends? In this episode of The HeadRush Podcast, Paul Frase and Corey Berry sit down with members of the NFL Player Advocacy Committee (PAC)—Roxanne McCrae, Ricky Ray and former NFL offensive lineman and coach Irv Eatman—for an unfiltered conversation about the NFL concussion settlement and the former players and families still trying to navigate it. The PAC was created to advocate for fairness, transparency and accountability while helping former players understand a process its members describe as difficult, confusing and inconsistent. The conversation explores a settlement involving roughly 20,000 former players and the obstacles that can stand between a player, a diagnosis and compensation.  Paul, Corey and the panel discuss: Why former players need independent advocacyThe complexity of the NFL concussion settlementDelays, denials, appeals and medical evaluationsParkinson’s, ALS, TBI and repeated head impactsThe enormous burden placed on wives, caregivers and familiesWhy some players simply give up fightingWhat the PAC believes needs to changeWhat today’s players can learn from the generations who came before them At one point, the panel states that approximately 20,000 former players registered for the settlement while only about 10% had received compensation, illustrating the scale of the challenge they believe remains.  This isn't simply a conversation about football. It's about what happens after the cheering stops—and who stands beside the people who helped build the game. Follow The HeadRush Podcast and share this episode. The person who needs this information may be a former player, teammate, spouse, caregiver or family member who doesn't know where to turn. Proudly Supported By Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — raising awareness of repetitive head impacts and CTE and helping families better understand the risks associated with brain trauma. Millennium Health Centers — advancing approaches to brain health and neurological wellness through the Millennium Protocol. Millennium Health Store Paradise Behavioral Health — Brain Well Program MC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S Ambio Life Sciences — exploring innovative approaches for individuals living with neurological and neurodegenerative challenges. Ambio Life Sciences is also featured during this episode.  Vielight, Inc. — advancing photobiomodulation technology for brain wellness.Use discount code HEADRUSHVL when purchasing through Vielight. PROGRAM NOTE: This episode was recorded before Corey Berry's departure from The HeadRush Podcast.

    After the NFL: The Fight for Care, Benefits & Accountability

  7. Aug 18

    OW Sports Network Interview: Football Was Good to Me—But We Didn’t Know the Cost | Paul Frase on Brain Trauma and Hope

    Football gave Paul Frase an 11-year NFL career. Decades later, it forced him to confront the unseen cost of thousands of repeated head impacts—and the question every parent, coach and athlete needs to face. Former NFL defensive lineman Paul Frase joins Vince and Stevie D of the OW Sports Network for a direct conversation about football, repeated head impacts and protecting the next generation. Paul looks back on his journey from Syracuse University to the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens—including the teammates, rivalries and unforgettable moments that shaped his career. But the most important part of this conversation begins after football. Paul shares what happened when episodes of uncontrolled rage began affecting his life at age 47, how learning about the possible effects of repeated head impacts changed his understanding of those symptoms, and why that experience helped inspire the HeadRush Podcast. The conversation examines: Why repeated head impacts—not only diagnosed concussions—matterThe risks facing children in football, hockey, soccer and other contact sportsHow parents and coaches can reduce unnecessary contactWhy athletes must be allowed to report symptoms without being shamedThe roles of nutrition, sleep and emerging brain-health therapiesWhy people struggling after brain trauma should never assume their lives are overFollow the HeadRush Podcast and share this episode with an athlete, parent, coach or caregiver who needs to hear it. Special thanks to Vince and Stevie D of the OW Sports Network for hosting this important conversation. HeadRush Podcast sponsors:Patrick Risha CTE Awareness FoundationMillennium Health CentersMillennium Health StoreParadise Behavioral Health – Brain Well ProgramMC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-SAmbio Life SciencesVielight, Inc. — Save with discount code HEADRUSHVL This episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    OW Sports Network Interview: Football Was Good to Me—But We Didn’t Know the Cost | Paul Frase on Brain Trauma and Hope

  8. Aug 10

    When Love Becomes Caregiving: The Hidden Toll of Brain Trauma

    Brain trauma doesn’t only affect the athlete. It can reshape a marriage, a family, and the life of the person standing beside them. What does it really mean to care for someone living with the long-term effects of repeated head impacts and brain trauma? In this deeply personal episode of the HeadRush Podcast, Paul Frase and Corey Berry are joined by Corey’s wife, Susan Berry, and Brandi Winans, wife of former NFL player Jeff Winans, for an honest conversation about the side of brain trauma that is too often overlooked: the caregiver. Susan shares what nearly 27 years beside Corey has looked like through cognitive changes, frightening neurological episodes, anger, memory loss, isolation, and his eventual diagnosis of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES). Brandi reflects on decades beside Jeff as his physical and neurocognitive health declined, as well as the advocacy work that grew from her family's experience. Together, they talk candidly about caregiver exhaustion, walking on eggshells, raising children around neurological changes, protecting relationships, asking for help, finding support groups, and staying connected to the person you love while brain trauma changes life around you. This episode refresh isn't simply about professional athletes. It is about spouses, parents, children, veterans, first responders, and families trying to understand what may be happening to someone they love. Because awareness can change how a family responds. And caregivers need support too. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS • Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — Raising awareness about the dangers of repeated head impacts and helping families understand, live with, and prevent CTE. • Millennium Health Centers — Supporting brain health through the Millennium Protocol and its work addressing neuroinflammation and hormone disruption. • Paradise Behavioral Health — BrainWell Program — Providing individualized support for brain health, mental health, and neurological wellness. • MC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S • Ambio Life Sciences — Advancing exploration of ibogaine and its potential applications involving neurological health. • Vielight, Inc. — Advancing photobiomodulation technology for brain health and wellness.Use discount code HEADRUSHVL when purchasing from Vielight. Thank you to every organization helping HeadRush continue the conversation around brain trauma, research, treatment, education, and hope. HeadRush Podcast — Brain Trauma. Brain Health. Hope.

    When Love Becomes Caregiving: The Hidden Toll of Brain Trauma
See All (60)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The HeadRush Podcast with Paul Frase takes you inside the reality of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) through the lens of football. With firsthand experience in one of the most punishing sports, Paul shares stories, the lasting effects of head trauma, and the fight for awareness and support.

Information

You Might Also Like