Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast

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In this episode, we’re joined by acclaimed investigative journalist Brian Deer, one of the most influential figures in modern medical reporting. A two-time British Press Awards winner and Honorary Doctor of Letters recipient from York St John University, Brian is best known for his rigorous investigations into public health, drug safety, and medical ethics.
His work for The Sunday Times exposed major failures in pharmaceutical oversight and unethical medical practices, including the investigation that dismantled the fraudulent research behind the claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism.
That reporting culminated in his award-winning book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, a detailed examination of how a single false study triggered a global health crisis and lasting damage to public trust. Today’s conversation explores that story and its continuing impact.
 
01: 55 - Brian’s Journey into investigative Journalism 
03:00 - The Vaccine Story 
06:50 – What Made Brian Look into The MMR Vaccination and Andrew Wakefield?
10:00 – Turning Points in the Investigation 
17:25 – How Did the Paper/ Study Get Published
20:00 – Push Back, Lawsuits and Personal Attacks
34:26 – Has the Public Completely Lost Trust in Vaccinations After Covid-19
38:55 – Was it Coincidence Book Released During Covid-19?
  
Website: https://briandeer.com
Twitter/X: @deerbrian

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Professor John J. Miller is the director of the Dow Program in American Journalism at Hillsdale College and one of the nation’s most respected literary journalists. A regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, he previously spent many years as a writer and podcaster for National Review. Miller is also the founder and executive director of the Student Free Press Association, the non-profit organization behind The College Fix, which supports and promotes collegiate journalism.
The Chronicle of Higher Education has described him as “one of the best literary journalists in the country,” a reputation reflected in his body of work. He is the author of several books, including The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football, which explores the surprising truths behind presidential intervention that helped shape the sport’s modern identity and the topic of today discussion. 
 
 
01:20 – Journey into Journalism and What Inspired Writing: The Big Scrum
06:00 - Walter Camp and Theodore Roosevelt History with Football 
10:30 – Early Violence and Brutality of Football & Charles Elliot’s Dislike for Football
17:40 – The Introduction of the Forward Pass
24:00 – Fights, Yale vs Harvard and the Flying Wedge
27:00 – Moments in Researching the Big Scrum
32:40 – Walter Camps Wife and Football
34:10 – Where You Can Find and Support Professor Miller

Twitter/x: @heymiller
https://www.heymiller.com/

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Welcome back to HeadFirst: A Concussion Podcast. 
Today we have the honour and privilege of welcoming Dr Elisabeth Bik.
Trained originally as a microbiologist, Dr Elisabeth Bik has become a global authority on research ethics and scientific credibility. She is best known for her meticulous investigations into altered images and questionable data practices in academic publishing. Her work has flagged potential problems in thousands of research papers and has played a role in more than a thousand formal retractions tied to compromised scientific standards.
Beyond her investigative impact, Dr Bik’s own research has been widely cited, and her efforts to safeguard the integrity of science have been recognised with several prestigious international honours. Now working independently, she advises on research integrity while continuing to advocate for transparency and ethical responsibility across the scientific world.
 
01:59 – Dr Elisabeth Bik Journey into Microbiology and Plagiarism
04:44 – Why is Scientific Integrity Important and Why Should We Care?
07:44 – Reasons People Fabricate Result
10:54 – Choosing Research to Sleuth and Common Fabrications
15:44 – Process When Investigating Paper’s
18:53 – Biggest Case Dr Bik Has Worked on and Personal Attacks / Push Back
26:14 – Collateral Damage of Fabricated Research
29:49 – What Questions to ask About ‘Catchy’ Headline’s?
33:14 – How We Can Support and Help Dr Bik’s Work
 
Dr Elisabeth Bik
X/Twitter: @MicrobiomDigest
Patreon.com/elisabethbik
Website: https://scienceintegritydigest.com/about/

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In this special episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the most powerful, challenging, and eye-opening moments from our past conversations. If you’ve missed any of our critical discussions featuring athlete’s perspective and experiences with concussion, this episode brings the best of it all together. 
 
Best of Episode 4: Athlete 
02:20 - Andy Clarke - Episode 87: How Knock Differs from Other Sports 
06:00 - Robbie O’Davis - Episode 106: Robbie’O Grand Final Dance
09:50 - Wally Lewis - Episode 73: Concussion Overtime + Awareness and Education
16:30 - Ian Roberts - Episode 63: Culture Over Time and Playing Experiences 
22:00 - Hamish Brayshaw - Episode 78: The Open Letter to the AFL 
24:10 - Will Schofield - Episode 79: Unrealistic Expectations of a Player
27:17 - Ian Greener - Episode 90: FA Guidelines and Old vs New Balls

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 In this special episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re revisiting some of the most powerful, challenging, and eye-opening moments from our past conversations. If you’ve missed any of our critical discussions brain function, dementia, litigation and autonomy this episode brings the best of it all together. We’ve carefully curated standout highlights from each major theme, featuring expert guests who have examined this complexities of concussion.
 
 
Brain and Dementia 
01:40 Amanda Ellison Episode 92 – Lobes and Functions of the Brain
07:50 Tommy Wood Episode 94 - Inflammation in the Brain: Causes and Effects
11:40 Robert Stern Episode 105 – Dementia
13:36 Rachel Grashow Episode 82 - Co-morbidities Mimicking Dementia Like Disease
17:17 Judith Gates Episode 89 - Bill Gates and Personal Experience
Law
25:32 Peter Jess Episode 85 - Concussion Protocol Stand Down Times and Unpacking AFL litigation 
33:06 Eric Windholz Episode 96 - Legal Case’s Club vs Organisations
Autonomy
36:30 Stephen Casper Episode 83 - Consent and Bodily Autonomy Versus Fiduciary
 
**Full episode and context Dr Casper asked my thoughts on the question before his responses**