Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Dr. John J. Leddy is a primary care sports medicine physician with UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and Professor of Clinical Orthopaedics at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He serves as the Medical Director of the University at Buffalo Concussion Management Clinic, where he has played a leading role in advancing the clinical ass...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Bridie O'Donnell is a valedictorian graduate of the University of Queensland Medical School who paused her medical career to become one of Australia's most accomplished cyclists. A multiple-time Australian National Time Trial Champion, she represented Australia on the international stage for more than a decade, racing for the national team in Europe and competing at t...

Send us Fan Mail Professor Doherty holds the Ellen Mayston Bates Chair in Neurology at Trinity College Dublin's School of Medicine and serves as a Consultant Neurologist in the Epilepsy Service at St James's Hospital. He is also a Principal Investigator at the Research Ireland FutureNeuro Centre, one of Ireland's flagship national research programmes for neurological disease. His re...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion We are honoured to introduce returning guest Dr Eric Windholz, a leading expert in regulatory theory practice and sports law. Dr. Windholz has made significant contributions to academic literature with numerous publications in esteemed journals and substantial involvement in various books and chapters and currently Associate Professor at Mon...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast,  we welcome back returning guest Professor Tony Collins, is a renowned historian and Emeritus Professor, widely regarded as a leading authority in the field of sports history. Over the course of a distinguished career spanning several decades, he has authored more than a dozen books and is a four-time recipient of the prestigious Ab...

Send us Fan Mail Re-Release Feb 2025: Everything was correct at time of recording and subject to change Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we're joined by Professor Jon Patricios, a leader in sports medicine since 1996. He is the Director of Waterfall Sports Orthopaedic Surgery and a Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, where he leads the Wit...

Send us Fan Mail Professor Roger Zemek, an internationally recognised leader in paediatric concussion research and clinical care. Dr Zemek serves as a Paediatric Emergency Physician and Senior Researcher at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, while a Professor of Paediatrics and Emergency Medicine at University of Ottawa. His work has been central to shaping contemporary approaches to concussi...

Send us Fan Mail Steven Broglio is a leading concussion researcher and Professor of Kinesiology, Neurology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, where he also directs the Michigan Concussion Centre. His research spans concussion prevention, assessment, treatment, and long-term outcomes in sport. Across his career, Dr Broglio has published more than 300 peer-rev...

Send us Fan Mail *Details of this episode where correct at the time of recording and may have change Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast. Today, we're thrilled to have the esteemed Dr. Nitin Sethi. Dr. Sethi is a former boxing and UFC ringside neurologist and a board-certified neurologist specializing in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology. Dr Sethi holds additional certificatio...

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...

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 - Sport...

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 03:2...

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 Peren...

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 concus...

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 inju...

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...

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, vestibu...

Send us Fan Mail **This Episode is a Re-Release from Late 2024,  information may have change since recording**    Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we are privileged to have Dr. Jason Chan join us. Dr. Chan recently retired after a distinguished 10-year tenure as the Chief Medical Officer for the Melbourne Storm, where he oversaw the medical management of the team during an...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to HeadFirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today Back by popular demand, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Stephen Townsend. A Lecturer and Research Fellow at Queensland University’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, Dr. Townsend is a leading voice in sport social studies and concussion history. His acclaimed book Head in the Game explores the cultural and social...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re honoured to be re-joined by Professor Amanda Ellison who disced all things about the brain and headaches on episode 92, Splitting: The Inside Story on Headaches  Professor Ellison has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers, earning close to 3,000 citations, with research spanning visual neuroscience, sensorimotor systems, and neuronal disruption in cond...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Deana Simonetto is a sociologist and Assistant Professor of History and Sociology at UBC Okanagan. Her research examines crime and deviance, gender, families, and sport, with a focus on how women navigate public identities while married to professional athletes.  Dr. Daniel Sailofsky is an Assistant Professor in Kinesiology & Physical Education at the University of Toronto...

Send us Fan Mail Wendy Smith is a dedicated advocate for concussion awareness, athlete wellbeing, and brain safety in sport. Following the tragic loss of her son, Antonio Lo Lacono, in 2023 after a head injury on the sporting field, Wendy transformed profound heartbreak into purpose. She is the driving force behind Happy Lid Hats, with proceeds supporting the Concussion Legacy Foundation and vital...

Send us Fan Mail Nick is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of success founding and leading innovative marketing and technology companies, with background spaning direct-to-consumer marketing, advanced media analytics, and high-performance sports, bringing a unique blend of business leadership and competitive insight to Light Helmets. Kodiak is Engineering & Production Manager at Light...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Povall, a Sydney-based physiotherapist with over 15 years of experience in neurological health and rehabilitation, holding a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Boston Universityfocusing in the recovery of both acute and persistent concussion symptoms. Dr Provall specialises in functional rehabilitation for conditions including concussion, balance and dizziness disorders, neck pain, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re joined by acclaimed investigative journalist Brian Deer, one of the most influential figures in modern medical reporting. A two-time British Press Awards winner and Honorary Doctor of Letters recipient from York St John University, Brian is best known for his rigorous investigations into public health, drug safety, and medical ethics. His work for The Sunday...