Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions

What happens after a traumatic brain injury when the hospital stay ends and the real recovery begins? In this episode of Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions, Kiley Como from Shane Smith Law sits down with TBI survivor and author Christopher Dittrich to discuss his powerful journey of recovery after a devastating car accident at just 18 years old. After spending weeks in a coma a...

What happens after a traumatic brain injury when the hospital stay ends and the real recovery begins? In this episode of Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions, Kiley Como from Shane Smith Law sits down with TBI survivor and author Christopher Dittrich to discuss his powerful journey of recovery after a devastating car accident at just 18 years old. After spending weeks in a coma a...

What do elite athletes, NFL-level spins, and concussion recovery have in common? More than you think. In this episode of the Mind Matters podcast, Kiley Como sits down with vestibular expert Shelia Thelen to uncover how balance training used by professional athletes is transforming concussion and TBI rehabilitation. From inner ear function and anxiety to sleep, cognition, and fall prevention, we e...

You’ve been cleared after your car accident… but something still feels off. The dizziness. The brain fog. The balance issues. What if the real problem isn’t your neck or muscles — but your brain’s vestibular system? In this episode of Mind Matters, Kiley Como, Legal Nurse Consultant with Shane Smith Law, sits down with Shelia Thelen, President of Vestibular Training Services, to break down how spi...

Ever wonder how neurologists turn thousands of medical pages into a clear story the court can understand? I’m Kiley Como, legal nurse consultant at Shane Smith Law, and in this episode of Mind Matters, Dr. Claudia Munoz breaks down her role as a medical expert in traumatic brain injury cases—what’s behind the scenes, why objectivity is key, and how attorneys can best work with experts. Let’s dive...

Brain injuries and concussions are often misunderstood — especially in legal cases where scans may look “normal.” In this Mind Matters episode, a board-certified neurologist explains why traumatic brain injury (TBI) evidence goes beyond imaging, how neurologists evaluate hidden symptoms, and why expert medical insight can change the outcome of a legal claim. If you’re dealing with a head injury ca...

What if the most important part of a personal injury case isn’t the police report or the MRI—but what happens when the lights go out and the worries set in? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the first raw days and weeks after an accident, exploring the emotional fallout clients rarely talk about. Joined by a legal nurse consultant and mental health experts, we break down how early, coor...

What if the most life-changing injuries after an accident aren’t visible at all? In this episode, we explore the hidden emotional and psychological effects of car accidents and traumatic brain injuries. Legal nurse consultant Kiley Como sits down with mental health experts Yissi Steinburg and Ami Feindstein to discuss anxiety, PTSD, emotional trauma, and why early mental health support is just as...

What if the toughest sport on earth could help solve one of the biggest problems in brain health? Today on Mind Matters, we’re continuing our conversation with Chris Cannon of M2MMA, diving into how combat sports are driving cutting-edge research, AI-powered data collection, and smarter protocols for concussion prevention. From athlete safety to real-world applications like car crashes and militar...

Can MMA be made safer without changing the sport we love? On this episode of Mind Matters, host Kiley Como from Shane Smith Law sits down with Chris Cannon, General Manager of M2MMA, a combat sports league using AI and real-time data to tackle one of the biggest challenges in sports today—traumatic brain injury. From sparring protocols to cutting-edge technology, we explore how innovation could re...

Life-changing injuries can take everything you thought you knew about yourself—and force you to rebuild from the ground up. In this powerful Mind Matters episode, we welcome back Michael Mashkevich as he shares his deeply personal journey through severe traumatic brain injury, long-term recovery, and redefining purpose after loss. From life-altering medical setbacks to meditation, lifestyle change...

A Friday night drive. A split-second decision. And a life forever changed. In today’s episode, we sit down with Michael Mashkevich, a web developer, tennis player, and coach whose world was turned upside down after a devastating car accident left him with a traumatic brain injury. From waking up in a coma to fighting through pain, memory loss, and vision challenges, Michael shares his powerful jou...

Imagine your entire world being turned upside down by a traumatic brain injury. Recovery isn’t just about healing the body—it’s about rediscovering who you are, finding new purpose, and redefining what it means to truly live. In this episode of Mind Matters, we continue Dawn’s journey through the long road of TBI recovery, exploring breakthroughs, therapies, and the resilience it takes to come bac...

Imagine waking up one day and your life changes in an instant. Familiar routines feel confusing, and every day brings new challenges. Today on Mind Matters, we’re diving into the real-life story of Dawn, a traumatic brain injury survivor. From the shock of her injury to the perseverance, advocacy, and hope she’s found, this conversation uncovers the realities of brain injury recovery. Let’s get st...

Today, we continue our powerful conversation with brain injury survivor Joe Wilson as he opens up about the real, moment-by-moment experience of recovery — rebuilding identity, overcoming emotional and physical challenges, and discovering purpose after trauma. If you missed Joe’s first episode, make sure to watch it, because it sets the foundation for this incredible story of resilience and healin...

Hi everyone, Kiley Como here, and welcome to Mind Matters. Today, we’re sharing the incredible story of Joe Wilson, who survived a life-changing brain injury at just 15. From a coma to recovery, and the amazing support from his family, Joe’s journey is inspiring—and you’re about to hear it in his own words. https://www.wilsonphotography.uk/personal-projects/you-dont-remember-those-things https://b...

Welcome to Mind Matters, where we explore the science, stories, and breakthroughs in brain injury recovery. I’m Kiley Como, your host and legal nurse consultant with Shane Smith Law. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome back Zach Smith, Clinical Director at Constant Therapy, to discuss how this groundbreaking digital platform is transforming rehabilitation for individuals recovering from brain injurie...

In this episode of Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions, host Kiley Como, legal nurse consultant at Shane Smith Law, sits down with Zach Smith, a clinical director and speech-language pathologist at Constant Therapy. Together, they explore how digital rehabilitation tools are revolutionizing aphasia therapy and neurological recovery. Zach shares insights on how AI-powered speech...

Struggling to understand concussions and brain injuries? Today, Dr. Jeremy Hertza breaks down how neuropsych assessments guide treatment, legal cases, and recovery—so you know what’s really happening inside the brain. In Pain? Call Shane! (980) 999-9999 https://www.shanesmithlaw.com/in-pain-call-shane/ Want $25.00? Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter for weekly chances to win trivia: https://share.h...

Welcome to Mind Matters! In this episode, host Kiley Como sits down with Dr. Jeremy Hertza, a board-certified neuropsychologist, to break down how traumatic brain injuries and concussions are evaluated, managed, and treated. From acute symptoms to complex neuropsychological assessments, learn what really happens inside the brain after injury and why thorough testing is critical for recovery and le...

Join us in this episode of Mind Matters as we sit down with Dr. Erik Reis, a board-certified functional neurologist and certified brain injury specialist. We dive deep into the world of functional neurology, chiropractic medicine, and brain health—exploring how these integrative approaches help patients recover from concussions, traumatic brain injuries, migraines, vertigo, and more. Learn how fun...

Welcome back to Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions. I’m your host Kiley Como, legal nurse consultant at Shane Smith Law. Today, we’re joined once again by Sherry, devoted caregiver, career leader, and creator of the Harmony Hero Framework. Together, we’ll explore how caregiving and leadership intersect—how resilience, emotional intelligence, and empathy can help caregivers and...

Welcome back to Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions. I’m your host, Kiley Como, legal nurse consultant here at Shane Smith Law. Today, I’m joined by Sherry Grote — caregiver, career leader, and creator of the Harmony Hero Framework. After her husband’s near-fatal brain stem stroke, Sherry found herself balancing caregiving, family life, and a high-powered corporate career. In th...

Welcome back to Mind Matters! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr. Joshua Wheeler, a chiropractor at Lookout Valley Chiropractic in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dr. Wheeler specializes in helping patients recover from auto accidents, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal concerns. We’ll dive into how chiropractic care plays a vital role in concussion and TBI recovery, the signs to watch...

Trouble sleeping after a concussion or head injury? Waking up at 3AM, feeling dizzy, or constantly exhausted? In this episode, we explore how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect circadian rhythms, cause sleep disturbances, and lead to common but misunderstood symptoms like vertigo and insomnia. Learn what doctors often miss, how to ask the right questions, and what strategies might help you or...