Head-Cast The Stroke Podcast

A little over a decade ago, the landmark MR CLEAN stroke thrombectomy trial reshaped global stroke care. What began as cautious, sceptical research proved that thrombectomy could save lives, reduce disability, and transform outcomes for millions. In this episode of The Head‑Cast , Professor Diederik Dippel shares the real story behind the breakthrough — the doubt, the teamwork, the evidence, and t...

Community, connection, and lived experience sit at the heart of stroke recovery — and in this episode of Head‑Cast , Greg Hollingworth from Different Strokes brings all three to life. Greg shares his own journey as a working‑age stroke survivor and explains how peer‑led support has transformed recovery for thousands of people since the charity began in 1996. This conversation goes beyond clinical...

In this episode, Sheila Chingono shares her powerful story of surviving a stroke, her journey through recovery, and her mission to raise awareness around stroke prevention and inclusivity within the legal and medical communities. Her insights challenge misconceptions and highlight the importance of representation, resilience, and purpose. In this episode: • Sheila describes her experience of havin...

This episode features an in-depth discussion between Phil and Stroke Physician Mr Paul Bolaji on the latest advancements in virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation, global disparities in stroke care, and innovative solutions in Africa. Experts share insights on how technology and policy can transform recovery outcomes. #stroke rehabilitation, #virtual reality, #healthcare innovation, #Africa hea...

summary Philip discusses his personal journey with stroke, the importance of fundraising for the charity 'Different Strokes,' and insights into stroke treatment advancements like thrombectomy. He shares his upcoming cycling challenge to support stroke survivors and plans to visit the Erasmus Stroke Medical Centre in Rotterdam. key topics Stroke recovery and support Fundraising for 'Dif...

In this conversation, Mimi Hayes shares her incrediblejourney as a brain injury survivor, detailing her experiences from the initial symptoms to the misdiagnosis, brain surgery, and the long road to recovery. She discusses the role of comedy in her healing process and how she has turned her challenges into a source of inspiration for others. Mimi's story highlights theimportance of advocacy in hea...

Episode 16 – The TRICEPS Trial: Can Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improve Arm Recovery After Stroke? In Episode 16 of Head-Cast, host Phil Woodford speaks with Professor Arshad Majid from the University of Sheffield about the groundbreaking TRICEPS Trial — an innovative stroke rehabilitation research study exploring whether Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (TVNS) paired with therapy can significan...

Welcome to Episode 15 of Head-Cast. In this episode, I reflect on recent challenges travelling by train with a disability, highlighting the ongoing barriers faced by disabled passengers across the UK rail network. I also discuss stroke care in the North West, acknowledging the important progress made by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals in delivering a 24/7 Stroke Thrombectomy Service. While this is a...

in Episode 14 of Head-Cast, Phil Woodford talks with stroke survivor and thriver Simon Harris about life after stroke, personal care challenges, the limits of the FAST campaign , digital inclusion, and the need for a digital home for stroke survivors to connect, share experiences, and access support online.

Episode 13 – Jason Parker: Stroke Survivor & New Chair of the Stroke Association UK ** Note this Episode includes discussion around suicide*** In this inspiring episode of Head-Cast, host Phil Woodford sits down with Jason Parker, who survived a life-changing stroke in December 2019 and has recently taken on the prestigious role of Chair of the Stroke Association UK. Jason shares his powerful...

*** Note - Sound quality issue for this episode, sorry *** In Episode 12, I sit down with Professor Arshad Majid, a leading voice in stroke rehabilitation research, to explore the groundbreaking TRICEPS RESEARCH trial — a study investigating whether Trans-Cutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS), paired with rehabilitation therapy, can help improve arm function in people experiencing upper-limb we...

Episode 11 of the Head-Cast podcast, hosted by Phil Woodford, features a powerful and uplifting conversation with stroke survivor Peter Hooper. Peter opens up about the moment his stroke struck, the fear and uncertainty that followed, and the extraordinary medical intervention that saved his life. Peter describes receiving life-saving and life-changing thrombectomy treatment at Royal Stoke Hospita...

Host Phil Woodford talks with Dr George Harston from Brainomix about how AI-powered imaging is transforming stroke care in the UK and beyond. They explore real-world findings from the 2024 ESOC evaluation, including faster diagnosis times, improved access to mechanical thrombectomy, and how Brainomix 360 Stroke is helping clinicians make life-saving decisions when every second counts. A must-liste...

In this episode (9) of Head-Cast , we shine a light on a growing concern in UK stroke care — the lack of follow-up appointments with stroke specialists after hospital discharge. Despite clear NICE guidelines recommending specialist reviews for every stroke survivor, thousands are being left without the critical support needed to monitor recovery, prevent complications, and reduce the risk of a sec...

This episode Phil has a wide ranging discussion with Dr Ali a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Cerebrovascular Disease He's also a Stroke Consultant. They discuss the research the Dr Ali is leading into Post-Stroke Fatigue in Stroke Survivors and the role of Remote Iscaemic Conditioning might play in helping to alleviate this issue for Survivors through the use of a simple blood pressure cuff!

This week Phil talks with Ronen from the Global Technology company, Rapid Medical about their innovative product to save lives of Stroke Patients. Phil also talks about Research and the letter he's writing to Wes Streeting, about the empty commitment of the NHS to deliver a ten fold increase in Thrombectomy in England.

This week Phil is out and about at Royal Stoke Hospital to meet with Dr Nayak, Consultant Interventional Radiologist. They talk Ai, Mountains, Poor rates of remuneration for Nursing and other staff 'on-call'. but the big news is Dr Nayak classes Phil as a 'young' man! :)

It's been a few weeks and Phil talks about his health; being interviewed by ITV/ Granada reports news; 10 developments from the global world of stroke, and Phil starts to take the podcast on the road starting on Friday 25 visiting an NHS Hospital and thrombectomy centre. News link: https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2025-04-02/widow-calls-for-247-stroke-treatment-that-could-have-saved-her-husban...

this episode Phil talks to Amy Bean from specialist Neurological and Stroke Rehabilitation equipment supplier saebo (UK). Phil also talks about his concerns surrounding the narrative for disabled people in the press currently, particularly around PIP he also passes comment on the announcement NHS England is to be abolished.

This week I chat with the inspirational Kate Allatt, International Author, TedX speaker and most importantly mum to three. Kate describes her journey to overcome Locked In Syndrome following a catastrophic Brain Stem stroke at 39 years young, and she talks very openly about the impact it's had on her life, her career and her marriage,

In this episode Phil rants about Blue Badges and the reaction he sometimes gets when using his badge. Juliet Bouverie join's Phil as a guest on this first Episode and Phil learns he's a lot to learn yet about Podcasting and acoustics. But he will improve, It's a promise!

Trailer episode, letting listeners know what to expect.