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

Latest episode
148 episodes
Neuropathology and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) with Dr Michael Buckland
2026/09/22 | 26 mins.Send us Fan Mail
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- Send us Fan Mail
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 Probable CTE, Football & Brain Health with Valerie Wade & Former Socceroo Captain Paul Wade
2026/09/08 | 50 mins.Send us Fan Mail
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.comEdgework, Consent and the Violence Paradox in Martial Arts with Dr Alex Channon
2026/09/01 | 55 mins.Send us Fan Mail
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.Performance of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome Criteria in Identifying Individuals with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy with Dr John Arena
2026/08/25 | 32 mins.Send us Fan Mail
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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