Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast

If “migraine” meds aren’t touching your headaches after a concussion, you might be chasing the wrong problem. Dr. Wolf sits down with Dr. Adam Harcourt, a board-certified functional neurologist and fourth-generation chiropractor, to unpack why post-traumatic headaches so often get mislabeled as migraine—and how objective neuro exams flip the outcome. From eye movement control and gaze stabilizatio...

Do you still feel dizzy, off-balance, or disoriented months—or even years—after your concussion? You’re not imagining it. In this episode, Dr. Ayla Wolf sits down with Dr. Helena Esmonde , founder of Vestibular First and creator of the innovative infrared goggles that are changing how clinicians diagnose and treat vestibular disorders. Together, they uncover what your eye movements can reveal abou...

A motorcycle crash in Ecuador set off a chain reaction Kevin Donahue couldn’t name at first: anger out of nowhere, brain fog, exhaustion, and a life that stopped making sense. When a friend connected the dots to concussion, everything changed—awareness unlocked a roadmap to real recovery. We explore how Kevin turned survival into transformation with several practical pillars: awareness, listening...

What if the fastest path to fewer concussions and better performance starts with how we train the neck? We sit down with physiotherapist, inventor, and researcher Dr. Theo Versteegh to unpack a novel training device that targets rapid, eccentric stabilization—the exact kind of control impact sports demand. Instead of slow, single-plane moves, his device builds rate of force development in rotation...

Think your “sinus headache,” tight hamstring, or random insomnia is unrelated to your head? We trace surprising symptom chains back to the nervous system and show how hidden concussions often sit at the center of stubborn pain, sleep issues, tinnitus, and gut flare‑ups. With returning guest Dr. Clayton Shiu, we unpack real cases where elbow or knee pain turned out to be brain-driven—and why delaye...

What if the missing element in your health isn't another supplement or diet change, but something as fundamental as light? In this illuminating conversation, Sarah Turner reveals how our modern indoor lifestyle has created a profound deficiency in specific wavelengths of light that our bodies evolved to require. Turner, founder of CeraThrive and creator of an innovative red light therapy devi...

Have you ever wondered why your digestion seems to have gone haywire after a concussion? You're not alone, and there's a neurological explanation behind those new food sensitivities and stomach troubles. The brain-gut connection is far more profound than most of us realize. Through the vagus nerve—a critical communication pathway—your brain and digestive system maintain constant dialogue...

The quest to understand persistent brain symptoms after concussion has puzzled doctors and researchers for decades. What happens when the brain doesn't heal as expected? Why do some patients develop long-term problems while others recover completely? Dr. Mavroudis, consultant neurologist and pioneering researcher, pulls back the curtain on these mysteries by revealing surprising connections b...

The nervous system after concussion often remains stuck in fight-or-flight, making traditional rehabilitation challenging at best. Melissa Biscardi, an osteopathic therapist, registered nurse, and PhD candidate, reveals why gentle manual therapy creates a critical foundation for healing visual dysfunction after brain injury. Drawing from over a decade of clinical experience, Biscardi explains how...

What happens when a decorated Navy commander and world-record holder for living underwater becomes a traumatic brain injury patient himself? Dr. Joe Dituri's extraordinary journey from elite military diver to pioneering hyperbaric medicine researcher offers groundbreaking insights into brain injury recovery that challenge everything we thought we knew. Having spent 100 days living at pressure...

Contact Dr. Antonucci:  Website Dr. Antonucci's Neurobytes Blog - (totally worth reading in IMO) Eliminate your hiccoughs in seconds! Blog post as promised :) Carrick Institute Show Description: Ever wonder why your concussion symptoms persist despite seeing multiple specialists and undergoing countless tests? In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Matthew Antonucci reveals the systematic app...

Dr. Glen Zielinski from Northwest Functional Neurology explores commonly missed vestibular lesions that can develop after head impacts, focusing on Superior Canal Dehiscence (SCD) as a frequently overlooked cause of debilitating hyperacusis and other post-concussion symptoms. He shares diagnostic insights including a simple tuning fork test that can identify potential SCD cases. • SCD creates a re...

Dr. Glen Zielinski from Northwest Functional Neurology in Lake Oswego, OR, joins us to talk about how he’s using cutting-edge, image-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technology to treat more than just depression. With neuro-navigated TMS, he's able to target specific brain regions with millimeter precision—and he's not stopping there. Dr. Zielinski walks us through how he c...

Navigating the complex world of inner ear disorders, Dr. Ayla Wolf and Sophia Bouwens discuss the mechanics and causes of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and what contributes to re-occurring BPPV. • Difference between true vertigo and general dizziness  • How the semicircular canals and otolithic organs in our inner ear detect all head movements • Infrared goggles essential for accurat...

Dr. Brody Miller, PhD, is a 2x best selling, author, researcher, speaker, and pioneer in brain health recovery. Having recovered from severe brain trauma, drug and epileptic seizures, he created a unique, and holistic approach, called the REBOUND method (TM) with his Mind Gym Starter Course . He focuses on helping high-level, heart led, athletes and leaders from all around the world overcome brain...

Dr. Ayla Wolf interviews Dr. Ala Lysyk about Cereset technology, an innovative approach using acoustic feedback to help the brain reset itself after concussion or trauma. They discuss how this engineering-based technology creates a real-time acoustic mirror therapy that allows the brain to recognize and correct harmful patterns causing persistent fatigue and other symptoms. • Dr. Ala's journe...

Dr. Ayla Wolf and Sophia Bouwens dive deep into the complexities of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), explaining how this autonomic dysfunction manifests and why proper diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment. Dr. Wolf breaks down the different subtypes, testing methods, and treatment approaches while emphasizing the importance of looking beyond symptoms to find root causes. •...

Chaandani Khan's story begins with a life derailed. Six years ago, a car accident left this high-achieving event planner with a concussion that transformed her world overnight. The woman who once thrived on 70-hour work weeks, constant travel, and a packed social calendar suddenly couldn't make a sandwich or find matching shoes. The cognitive fog was so thick that even basic tasks became...

Dr. Mike Nelson explains how ketones and lactate can serve as alternative fuel sources for the brain after concussion when glucose metabolism becomes impaired. This metabolic insight opens new possibilities for recovery support and symptom management. • Concussions disrupt glucose metabolism in the brain but don't affect ketone and lactate pathways • Parasympathetic nervous system activation...

Dr. Mike Nelson shares his expertise on exercise intolerance after concussion, explaining that neurological limitations, not metabolic fatigue, are the primary barrier to resuming physical activity. The key difference is that your nervous system acts as a brake on performance, preventing your body from accessing its existing physical capabilities. • Exercise testing should be individualized, focus...

Dr. Brewer brings his expertise as a neuro-optometrist to explain how visual processing problems are often overlooked in concussion recovery despite causing significant symptoms. He shares insights on integrating visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems to create lasting improvements for patients with post-concussion syndrome. • 20/20 vision only measures clarity, not eye tracking or binocul...

Dr. Michelle Morrissey of the Morrissey Institute explains how she has adapted EMDR therapy to safely and effectively treat patients with concussions and brain injuries. She details the eight phases of EMDR treatment and shares her approach of clearing small traumas first to create capacity for healing bigger ones. • Dr. Morrissey has 20+ years of experience as a trauma-informed mental health prof...

Dr. Ayla Wolf and Dr. Tatiana Habanova discuss the neuroendocrine changes post-concussion, particularly the impact on thyroid and adrenal function. Dr. Habanova explains that hypothyroidism often results from pituitary dysfunction rather than direct thyroid issues. She emphasizes the importance of assessing hormone levels immediately post-concussion or after a few weeks. They highlight the need fo...

The hormonal ripple effects of concussions are often overlooked in recovery, creating frustrating plateaus for patients despite their best rehabilitation efforts. These hidden disruptions in the endocrine system can dramatically impact recovery and require a nuanced approach to care. • Dr. Tatiana Habanova brings together functional neurology and functional medicine to address post-concussion horm...

When Shane Swenson's car was struck by a drunk driver traveling 90mph in a 30mph zone one February morning in 2019, life as he knew it changed forever. His 12-year-old son Brady suffered a traumatic brain injury that would launch the family on an unexpected journey through emergency surgeries, months of rehabilitation, and a complete reimagining of their future. Shane vividly recalls the mome...