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PodcastsHealth & WellnessHeadfirst: A Concussion Podcast

Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

Dr Reece Granger BSc (Hons), BChiro
Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast
Latest episode

148 episodes

  • Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

    Neuropathology and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) with Dr Michael Buckland

    2026/09/22 | 26 mins.
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    Dr Buckland is Head of the Department of Neuropathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. He founded and directs the Australian Sports Brain Bank, established in 2018, which has since become a leading centre for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He is also a co-founder of Brainstorm, a brain cancer research initiative at RPA, and leads research across gliomas, neurodegenerative diseases and molecular neuropathology.

    01:17 – Dr Buckland’s Journey Neuropathology and What is Neuropathology
    04:25 - Concussion, repetitive head impact
    07:50 – What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
    10:20 – How is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Diagnosed 
    13:00 – Separating Different Types of Neurodegenerative Disease 
    16:54 – Does Response Relationship 
    19:00 -Brain Donation and Difficulties in Approaching Donations
    23:00 – Brainstorm and Cancer
     
    Google Schoolar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=A4mEg3QAAAAJ&hl=en
    Australian Sports Brain Bank: https://brainbank.org.au
    BrainStorm: https://brainbenefit.org/causes/brainstorm-at-rpa/
     
     
    Twitter: @first concussion
    Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
    Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
    Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com
  • Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

    Concussion, Women’s Health and Acupuncture with Dr Ayla Wolf

    2026/09/15 | 49 mins.
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    Dr. Wolf is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and the founder of Healing Response Acupuncture & Functional Neurology in Stillwater, Minnesota. With more than 20 years of clinical experience, she specialises in neurological acupuncture, post-concussion syndrome, and traumatic brain injury recovery. Her approach combines functional neurology and applied clinical neuroscience, supported by post-doctoral training at the Carrick Institute, where she serves as an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine.
    Dr. Wolf has also worked as a team acupuncturist for UFC and Legacy fighters at Fortis MMA in Dallas. She is the host of Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast and the author of The Art of Concussion Recovery and The Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces to Recovery.

    01:40 - Journey from Acupuncture to Concussion Care 
    08:50 – Concussion, What It Means in and Functional Assessments in Dr Wolf’s Clinic 
    16:30 – Where it Fits in Concussion
    23:00 – Clinical Approach on Female Population
    29:20 – Acupuncture Needles Gauge Explained
    31:15 – Dr Wolf’s Books
    40:30 - Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast
    48:00 – Where to Find Dr Wolf

    Dr Ayla Wolf
    https://lifeafterimpact.com/podcast
    https://acupunctureneurology.com/about
    IG: @lifeafterimpact
    FB: https://www.facebook.com/amy.ayla.wolf/

     
    Twitter: @first concussion
    Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
    Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
    Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com
  • Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

    Probable CTE, Football & Brain Health with Valerie Wade & Former Socceroo Captain Paul Wade

    2026/09/08 | 50 mins.
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    Paul captained the Socceroos throughout the 1990s, earning 84 caps and playing 345 National Soccer League games for clubs including Croydon, Green Gully, Brunswick and South Melbourne. He led Australia from 1990 to 1996, including at the Olympics and through two World Cup qualifying campaigns, and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
    More recently, Paul has bravely spoken publicly about his diagnosis of probable CTE, linked to repeated head impacts throughout his career, using his experience to advocate for better brain health protections in football.
     
    01:40 - Paul's Journey into football
    04:05 - Football at Barnsley
    06:00 – How Paul and Val Met
    08:30 – Diagnosis of Probable CTE
    11:30 – Process of Diagnosis
    19:40 – Perspective of a Diagnosis and Day to Day life
    24:30 – Impact on Work
    27:20 – Paul’s Epilepsy 
    30:30 – Advocacy, Training with Probable CTE
    39:25 – Pauls Favourite Footballing Moments
    43:00 – Old National Soccer League/ NLS Day’s
    44:50 – Val’s Favourite Moments 
    47:07 – Find Paul/ Support 
    49:10 – Dad Joke’s
                                                            
     
    Paul Wade Life Skills: www.paulwade.com.au
    Epilepsy Action Australia / Paul Wade: www.epilepsy.org.au
    Dr Rowena Mobbs: www.rowena.mobbs.com.au
    ConneCTErs Australia: www.connecters.org.au
    Twitter: @first concussion
    Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
    Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
    Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com
  • Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

    Edgework, Consent and the Violence Paradox in Martial Arts with Dr Alex Channon

    2026/09/01 | 55 mins.
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    Dr Channon is a Principal Lecturer in Physical Education and Sport Studies at the University of Brighton, UK. His work covers sociology of sport, in particular martial arts and combat sports, examining topics such as gender and sexuality in participation, the role of martial arts in physical education curricula and media portrayals of professional fighters. Dr Channon has authored over 43 publications serves as an editor for the journal of Martial Arts Studies and Special Advisory Board Member, International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development. 
     
    01:25 - Journey into Sociology, and Martial Arts
    06:10 – What is Edgework/ Consent
    12:00 – Fighting and Violence Paradox 
    25:10 - Protecting fighters in unregulated combat sports 
    36:54 – Mixed Fighting/ Sparing 
    46:10 - Sexualisation of the fighter's body 
    51:00 – Where to Find Dr Alex Channon and Support His Work

    Dr Alex Channon
    https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=wVLoke8AAAAJ&citation_for_view=wVLoke8AAAAJ:e5wmG9Sq2KIC
     
    Additional Resources for further viewing and context
    Lecture 1 – violence/consent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdhWnqo3naQ (starts around 12 mins), 
     
    Lecture 2 – risk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddx9VYR0sEo,
     
    Lecture 3 – gender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWnymS6_gEQ.
  • Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

    Performance of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome Criteria in Identifying Individuals with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy with Dr John Arena

    2026/08/25 | 32 mins.
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    Dr. Arena is a neurosurgeon at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in the intersection of clinical neurosurgery, neurotrauma, and neurodegenerative disease. He has authored more than 54 publications in these fields.
    Before medicine, he was an accomplished football player at Johns Hopkins University, where he played linebacker in every game of his college career, helped lead the Blue Jays to a 28–6 record, and served as team captain in 2013. Academically, he maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA as a neuroscience major and was named the 2013 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and Capital One Academic All-America Player of the Year for Division III football.
     
     
    02:20 - Journey from football into medicine, neurosurgery. 
    05:10 - What is CTE and TES/ Probable CTE 
    14:48 - Lead author on “Performance of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome criteria in identifying individuals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy”
    23:40 – Where to Research Wise
    27:23 – Nocebo Effect
    31:00 – Where too Find Assistant Professor John Arena
     
    Assistant Professor John Arena:
    -       Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rBLzm34AAAAJ&hl=en
    -       Performance of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome criteria in identifying individuals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04392-9
     
    Twitter: @first concussion
    Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast
    Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion  
    Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com
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About Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast
Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, discusses all things concussion. From the physiology, effects, treatment and rehabilitation process. All with the aim of providing the tools and education to help patients. DISCLAIMER: All information discussed and provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice of doctors or healthcare practitioners. If a listener believes they are suffering from a similar injury to one discussed by the author, please seek medical care of your doctor or physician and do not rely on the author's advice.
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