The Concussion Coach

Katie Reese, OTS is a doctoral student in Occupational Therapy (OTD) at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. She is currently completing her doctoral capstone project focused on advocacy and education for adolescent concussion recovery. As a former multi-sport athlete, Katie sustained four diagnosed concussions between the ages of 14 and 18—each with different causes, symptoms, and recovery timeli...

Ranjeet Hira, B. Kin is a registered kinesiologist based in British Columbia, originally from Ontario. He graduated from McGill University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Education in Kinesiology and a minor in Biology. Ranjeet is a practicing member of the BC Association of Kinesiologists and serves on its marketing committee. He is also part of the BC Adaptive Mentorship Network with PainBC. With 18...

Joseph Kamerath, MD is a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician who trained at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC. He served 17 years in the United States Army, including deployments to Afghanistan, Korea, and Abu Dhabi. Dr. Kamerath earned his MBA from Strayer University and holds medical board certifications in PM&R and electrodiagnostic medicine. He has served as Seni...

In this solo episode of the Concussion Coach podcast, host Bethany Lewis—a neurological occupational therapist and certified life coach—introduces her framework for holistic concussion recovery: The Six Pillars of Concussion Recovery. Drawing on years of experience working with concussion patients, she explains that because the brain impacts every aspect of a person's life, recovery must addre...

Barney Davies is a former semi-professional rugby player whose career ended at age 23 — not because of his body, but because of his head. After years of playing through concussions in a culture that told him to "get on with it," he found himself living in post-concussion syndrome with very little support to get out of it. So he built the thing he needed. Barney is now the founder of The Concussion...

Guest Introduction Ayla Wolf, DAOM, L.Ac. is a functional neurologist and licensed acupuncturist specializing in concussion and brain injury recovery. With a doctorate in acupuncture and Oriental medicine and extensive training through the Carrick Institute in functional neurology, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary approach to helping people heal from post-concussion symptoms. Dr. Wolf is the...

Dr. Ayla Wolf is a doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine and a leading specialist in neurological rehabilitation. She is the author of The Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces to Recovery and The Art of Concussion Recovery . As the host of the Life After Impact podcast, she brings over 20 years of clinical experience to her integrative approach for treating complex conditions...

Dr. Kyla Pearce, PhD, MPH, RYT, CBIS is a neurological researcher and yoga/meditation teacher who has dedicated her career to bringing holistic, evidence-based healing to the brain injury community. Her work is deeply personal, inspired by her brother-in-law, professional snowboarder Kevin Pearce, who sustained a traumatic brain injury. She has developed TBI-specific curricula, trained thousands o...

Dylan Taylor is a former rugby player whose career was abruptly ended by a concussion in 2020. He has since lived with persistent symptoms for over six years, traveling the world to consult specialists and researching effective treatment for post-concussion syndrome. Now, he is the creator of Tackling Concussion , a documentary dedicated to raising public awareness about effective concussion treat...

Andy Beltz is a highly experienced physical therapist and vestibular rehabilitation specialist based in Canton, Ohio—home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With over 26 years of clinical practice at Aultman Tusc Therapy, where he also serves as Assistant Manager, Andy has treated more than 20,000 patients struggling with dizziness, balance disorders, and post-concussion symptoms. He is a nationall...

Sarah Mireles, LPCC, CLC is a therapist and the founder of Sarah Mireles Therapy. She is a neurodivergent professional with over 10 years of experience helping neurodivergent teens and their families. Her clinical experience spans intensive hospital, residential, and outpatient settings. She specializes in working with individuals who struggle with anxiety, OCD, autism, ADHD, and other forms of ne...

Jackie Lithgow is a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor, advocate, and the founder of the Jackie Lithgow Foundation. His journey is a powerful testament to resilience, having overcome a life-altering assault that left him with the most severe classification of brain injury. Jackie’s mission is to give back to the community that supported him by providing resources and hope to other surviv...

Today's guest is Lee Schwartz , a speaker, author, advocate, and proud father of two former NFL players. In his book Raising Giants , Lee shares the real-life story of how love, discipline, and vision helped shape his sons, Jeffrey and Mitchell, into elite athletes and grounded men. He serves on the West Coast Advisory Board of the Concussion and CTE Foundation , which is dedicated to research...

Clare Sharpen is a registered health coach and founder of The Brain Health Coach UK. Based in London, Clare spent over two years recovering from post-concussion syndrome following a fall in June 2023. During her recovery journey, she discovered the profound impact of nutrition, lifestyle interventions, and nervous system regulation on brain health. Now she runs the Post-Concussion Wellbeing Course...

Steve Clapp is a retired marketing and finance professional from the Chicago area who suffered a concussion in January 2025 after falling on an icy driveway. His injury led to persistent post-concussion syndrome (PCS) that affected nearly every aspect of daily life—visual overload, screen intolerance, sleep disruption, and visual vertigo made even ordinary environments difficult to navigate. Throu...

Porter Charles is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist, and a workplace therapist. He is also a TBI survivor, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to his work. He is the founder and CEO of Smooth Stone Counseling, where he supports individuals in navigating life and work imbalances. He speciali...

Ali Rheaume is a speaker, author, artist, and accessibility specialist who is deeply passionate about supporting the disability and brain injury community. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Movement Science and a Master’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. Ali is the owner of 199 Accessibility Consulting and her art business, Embracing Unique Art. She serves on the Brain Injury C...

Jack Fonderwhite, LAc is the creator of Peak Mind, a novel electroacupuncture approach to neurostimulation, and the founder of Jackupuncture in Hawaii. He is a provider for some of Hawaii’s top talent, including UFC’s BMF champion Max Holloway. A former kickboxing competitor himself, Jack combines nearly a decade of clinical expertise with personal experience to help elite performers—especially co...

Tim Whipple is a financial advisor and part-owner of his own firm from Provo, Utah. He is a husband of nearly 30 years, a father to five boys, and a proud first-time grandpa. Tim is also a former college football and rugby player who has navigated the long-term effects of multiple concussions, including a significant fall several years ago that led to post-concussion syndrome, brain fog, debilitat...

Jordan Slingerland is a recent high school graduate from Gilbert, Arizona, currently in flight school. She has lived with misophonia since the age of 12 and has become a thoughtful advocate for herself and others with the condition. Jordan shares her personal journey of navigating school, family life, friendships, and work while managing intense reactions to common sounds like chewing, sniffling,...

In this returning episode of The Concussion Coach Podcast, host Bethany Lewis (The Concussion Coach) reconnects with Sharik Peck and Katyrra Larson to explore the latest developments with the Rezzimax PainTuner—an external vagus nerve stimulator that uses gentle resonance (in the frequency range of a cat's purr) to calm the nervous system. Sharik shares exciting updates, including a new Philippine...

In this powerful crossover episode, Bethany Lewis (The Concussion Coach), a neurological occupational therapist and certified life coach, joins Bruce Parkman of the Broken Brains podcast to shatter common myths about concussions. Bethany explains that you don't need to be knocked out—or even hit your head—to sustain a concussion, and that the severity of the impact doesn't always predict t...

Michael Flomenhaft, Esq. is the principal of the Flomenhaft Law Firm PLLC in New York, New York. His practice focuses on trying cases for victims of traumatic brain injury and severe chronic pain. Renowned for his vast knowledge of neuroscience—including neuroimaging, neuropsychology, neurobiology, and the neuroanatomy of chronic pain—Mr. Flomenhaft serves on the board of advisors for the Center f...

Amy Stevenson Wilson, MPH, CHWC holds a Master’s in Public Health and is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Born and raised in Fruit Heights, Utah, Amy is an avid runner, reader, and nutrition enthusiast. She earned her political science degree from BYU and has lived around the globe. In 2017, while eight months pregnant, she survived a near-fatal collision with street-racing teens. Now a moth...

Jamie MoCrazy is a former professional freestyle skier, X Games record-setter, and critical traumatic brain injury survivor. Once known for pushing the limits in big air and slopestyle, her life changed dramatically during a competition in Whistler, Canada. Now, she uses her platform to raise awareness about the long-term effects of TBI and the importance of proper diagnosis, treatment, and recove...