Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, Today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Andy Clark. This week, we’re joined by one of boxing’s most respected voices, Andy Clarke, lead commentator for Sky Sports Boxing. With over two decades in the industry, Andy has earned a stellar reputation for his sharp analysis and eloquent commentary, having called some of the big...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we're joined by two brilliant minds in neurosurgery and concussion research: Dr. Nitin Agarwal , Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Raj Lavadi , Resident Physician and concussion researcher. Dr. Agarwal brings a wealth of experience as a board-certified neurosurgeon, educator, a...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast. Today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Peter Jess.    With over 40 years of experience in sports management and personal representation, Peter is a true powerhouse in the industry. As the first accredited AFL player agent in 1980, he helped shape the foundation of modern athlete representation in Australia. Globally respe...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re joined once again by Professor Alan Pearce, returning from Episode 21. A Clinical Neurophysiologist, Professor Pearce is internationally recognized for his work in sports-related concussion, employing techniques such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to investigate neurophysiological responses to brain injury. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publicatio...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast ! In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back Dr. Stephen Casper, first featured in Episode 30. A globally respected medical historian, Dr. Casper is Professor of History and Associate Director of Honors at Clarkson University, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His groundbreaking research has profoundly infl...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Rachel Grashow, director of epidemiological research initiatives for the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University and co-lead of the Family Experiences Managing Football Lives project. A research scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. Grashow’s work focuses on how environmental exposures shape brain and overall health in vulnerable groups fr...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast,  This episode, we're diving deep with Dr. Robert Cantu — world-renowned concussion expert, clinical professor at Boston University, co-founder of the CTE Center, and medical director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. With over 550 publications and 34 books to his name, Dr. Cantu has shaped the global conversation on brain tr...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re honoured to welcome Sarah Willey—a dedicated volunteer and board member with conneCTErs, an organization raising awareness and offering support around Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Sarah brings a wealth of experience in healthcare leadership, but she joins us today in an even more personal role: as a wife and mother. In this episode, Sarah shares what conneC...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we’re joined by former West Coast Eagles defender Will Schofield. Over his 14-year AFL career, Will played nearly 200 games, appeared in two grand finals, won a premiership, and earned life membership with the club. Post-retirement, he’s become a respected voice in media through Fox Footy and 6PR Perth. Will is also the co-f...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast. Today, we're thrilled to be joined by Hamish Brayshaw. Hamish is a former AFL player who now stars in the WAFL with East Perth, where he serves as co-captain. In 2023, he was honoured with the Sandover Medal, recognising him as the league’s best player. His impact on the game extends beyond the field—Hamish has lent his experti...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to headfirst: A Concussion Podcast. Today we have the honour and privilege to be hosting Nick Rushworth.  Nick Rushworth is the Executive Officer of Brain Injury Australia, a position he has held since 2008. Before joining Brain Injury Australia, Nick worked for the Northern Territory Government setting up their Office of Disability whilst also formerly a producer wit...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we're honoured to be joined by Professor Dominic Malcolm, a leading expert in the Sociology of Sport from Loughborough University. As Director of Doctoral Programmes and former editor of the International Review for the Sociology of Sport , Professor Malcolm's work explores the critical intersections of sport, medi...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we are honoured and privileged to welcome Sophie Curtain. An NRLW Athlete who represented New South Wales in the Under 19 State of Origin and an accomplished Australian and World Junior Muay Thai Champion. Sophie’s talents extend far beyond the field and ring. She’s a qualified Sports Nutritionist with a Bachelor of Nutritio...

Send us Fan Mail We are joined by Dr. Sharief Hendricks from the University of Cape Town — a leading figure in sports science and medicine. Dr. Hendricks is the Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport and has served on the editorial boards of the British Journal of Sports & Exercise Medicine and the European Journal of Sport Science as Social Media Editor since...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst . Today’s guest is a true legend — Wally Lewis. A rugby league immortal, State of Origin icon, and one of the greatest to ever play the game. With over 250 club appearances, 38 Origin games, and 34 Tests for Australia, his legacy is undeniable. Wally shares a deeply personal message about brain health, concussion and probable CTE. He does not blame the ga...

Send us Fan Mail                          **Re-Release Episode 23 - Original Date: 05/03/2024**  Welcome to "Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast," . In this instalment, we're thrilled to have retired NRL and English Super League player, Lachlan Coote, join us.   Lachlan stands as one of the greats of the game, boasting an impressive record of over 250 professional games. His achievement...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to HeadFirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we are the privileged and honour to be joined by Dr Lopez Frías. Dr Lopez Frias is an Associate Professor in the Kinesiology Department at Penn State University, whilst also a Senior Research Associate at the Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State's Dr Lopez Frías' areas of expertise are in the ethics of sports, inclu...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast ! In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to be joined again by popular demand, renowned historian and Emeritus Professor Tony Collins.  Professor Collins joined us on episode 61 discussion history of football origin. For those who are new or yet to listen Professor Collins work is a leading expert in sports history, having authored over...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive deep into the abnormal physiology that occurs at the cellular level during a concussion. From the disruption of ion gradients in neurons to the neurometabolic cascade that follows, we explore how these changes lead to an energy deficit disorder in the brain. Understanding these processes is crucial for grasping the long-term effects of concussions, includi...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we're honored to be joined by Stephanie Convery. Stephanie is an inequality reporter and formerly the Deputy Culture Editor at The Guardian Australia in Melbourne. Before her time at The Guardian , she worked as a freelance journalist and served as Deputy Editor of Overland Magazine . Additionally, Stephanie is the auth...

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re excited to be joined by Dr. Nick Cecchi, a pioneer in the field of brain injury biomechanics and helmet design. Dr. Cecchi is passionate about enhancing human safety through cutting-edge research and technology. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Irvine and a PhD in Bioengineering from Stanford University. Over the years, his ground-breaking work has led...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast . Today, we’re honoured and privilege to have Dr. Julie Stamm return as our guest, following her first appearance in Episode 28. Dr Julie Stamm, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, receiving her doctorate from the Boston University School of medicine in anatomy and neurobiology. Dr Stamm also stu...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Wits Sport and Health Research Group. With fellowships in sport and exercise medicine from...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome Back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, in this discussion, we’ll address the trial of a new rule being implemented during the upcoming pre-season challenge matches in the NRL. This rule has sparked significant controversy, with many fans and academics seeing it as a step in the wrong direction. Rather than improving safety, the rule has been criticized for its potential...

Send us Fan Mail * We want to apologize for the episode being a bit out of context due to some internet connection issues during our recording. Unfortunately, we had a few technical hiccups along the way. That said, we want to extend a huge thank you to Ian Roberts for his patience and for recording with us not once, not twice, but three separate times to make sure we could bring this episode to y...