Send us a text Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Professor Robert Stern. Professor Stern is a Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. As co-founder of the BU CTE Center and former Director of Clinical Research, he has spent nearly two decades pioneering ways to detect and diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) during life...

Send us a text Welcome back to headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Professor Bill Ribbans. Professor Ribbans is a Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon and Professor of Sports Medicine, internationally recognised for his decades of work in elite sport and lower-limb orthopaedics. He trained in London, completed Fellowships in Sheffield and at Harvard, and began his Consultant career at the Royal Free before returning to Northampton, where he now w...

Send us a text Welcome Back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Professor Christina Master. Dr. Christina Master is one of the world’s foremost experts in paediatric sports medicine and concussion care. She serves as a primary care sports medicine specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where she also co-directs the Minds Matter Concussion Program—a nationally recognized Frontier Program dedicated to advancing care ...

Send us a text Today we have the honour and privilege of being joined by Dr Greg Hollin. Dr Hollin is a research fellow in the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of Sheffield, where he explores the intersections of science, technology, medicine, and culture. His research focuses on areas such as neuroscience, concussion, CTE, biomimetic technology, and ethics. Throughout his career, Dr Hollin has received several major research awards, including the Welcome Trust Research Fe...

Send us a text We are joined by Professor James Smoliga, who serves as the Director of Research and Faculty Development for Tufts University's, Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Seattle. Professor Smoliga previously held the position of Associate Director of the Human Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratory at High Point University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and was awarded the 2022 Guy Simoneau Excellence in Research Award. With over 175 publications that h...

Send us a text Today, we’re joined by Associate Professor Kathleen Bachynski from Muhlenberg College. Her research explores injury prevention, sports safety, and youth health, examining how communities perceive brain injuries in sports—as accidents or preventable public health issues. She is the author of No Game for Boys to Play: The History of Youth Football and the Origins of a Public Health Crisis (2019), winner of the 2020 North American Society for Sport History Book Award, and a widely...

Send us a text In today’s episode, we have the honour and privilege to be joined once again by Professor Tony Collins, who previously featured in Episodes 61 and 70. Professor Collins is a renowned historian and Emeritus Professor, widely regarded as a leading authority in the field of sports history. Over the course of a distinguished career spanning several decades, he has authored more than a dozen books and is a four-time recipient of the prestigious Aberdare Prize. His expertise has also...

Send us a text ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, murder, and abuse, Listener discretion is advised. Today’s episode features an in-depth conversation with Irvin Muchnick, an acclaimed independent journalist and author whose fearless investigations have exposed the darker, hidden side of sports. Irvin’s reporting has been featured in leading outlets such as Sports Illustrated, People, The Washington Monthly, the magazine sections of The New York Times, and as a c...

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jamie Woodman, chiropractor and captain of the Perth Thunder in the Australian Ice Hockey League, the premier competition in the southern hemisphere. Jamie’s career on the ice stretches back more than ten years, beginning with a bold move to Canada at just 16 to skate with the Banff Bears, followed by time in the U.S. with the Palm Beach Hawks. Since then, he’s gone on to represent Australia at multiple levels, wearing both the “C” and “A” ...

Send us a text Today we are honoured to invite back by popular demand, returning guest Dr. Eric Windholz, a highly respected expert in sports law and regulatory theory. A senior lecturer at Monash University and a member of several prominent sports law boards, Dr. Windholz has been a favourite among listeners since his appearances in Episodes 28 and 49. In this episode, he returns by popular demand to delve into the latest legal developments surrounding sports injuries and insurance, a topic ...

Send us a text Welcome Back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast. Today we have the honour and privilege to be joined by Dr Matt Ventresca and Dr Kathryn Henne. Dr. Ventresca is a critical sports studies scholar and Research Associate at Western University and Brock University, as well as a Visiting Fellow at Australian National University. His decade-long research focuses on how social and cultural inequalities shape our understanding of brain injuries in sport, especially concussions an...

Send us a text In this episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we welcome Dr. Tommy Wood. A neuroscientist and physician, discussing his journey into human optimization and brain health. We explore the complexities of concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI), the role of inflammation in brain health, and the nuances of cognitive decline and dementia. Dr. Wood emphasizes the importance of lifestyle changes and actionable steps to improve brain health, introducing his 3S model: ...

Send us a text **Re-Release Episode with Dr Stephen Townsend. Original air date: July 2nd, 2024** Welcome to HeadFirst: A Concussion Podcast In this episode, we are privileged to host Dr. Stephen Townsend as our special guest. Dr. Townsend holds the position of Lecturer and Research Fellow at Queensland University with the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences specializing in sport social studies. Dr Townsend is renowned for his work in sports history, with his extensive acad...

Send us a text Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast. Today we are joined by Professor Amanda Ellison, a neuroscientist and physiologist at Durham University with more than two decades of experience. She has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers with close to 3,000 citations, and her research covers areas including the neuroscience of vision, neuronal disruption in migraine headaches, visuomotor systems, and sensorimotor cortical function. Beyond her academic work, Professor Elliso...

Send us a text Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast. Today we have the honor and privilege of welcoming back Dr. Federica Conti, who first joined us in Episode 60. Dr. Conti brings a remarkable background in cognitive neuroscience, holding a Master’s in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing from Oxford University and a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience. Her research lies at the intersection of sleep science, neuroscience, and nutrition—key areas in optimizing brain health and...

Send us a text In this episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re joined by Ian Greener. A lifelong contributor to football as a player, coach, educator, and dedicated advocate for player safety. Ian’s career began in 1970s England with Middlesbrough FC, where he trained alongside legends like Bill Gates. After moving to Australia, he became a key figure in the sport’s development — coaching in the old National Soccer League, co-founding the soccer program at the Victorian Instit...

Send us a text In this episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re honoured to welcome Dr Judith Gates — educator, researcher, and founder of Head Safe Football. With a distinguished career spanning education and strategic planning, including roles at Harvard and Stanford, Dr. Gates now channels her expertise into raising awareness about sports-related brain injuries. Inspired by the legacy of her late husband, former professional footballer Bill Gates, she is a leading voice in the fig...

Send us a text In this episode, we’re joined by Julie, whose MMA career spans over a decade with appearances in top-tier promotions like EliteXC, Strikeforce, and the UFC. Her 2007 fight with Gina Carano remains a landmark moment in combat sports history, showcasing the skill and legitimacy of women in MMA. After retiring from competition, Julie transitioned to broadcasting and has since become a leading voice in the industry through her insightful analysis with Invicta Fighting Championships...

Send us a text Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, Today we have the honour and privilege to welcome Andy Clark. This week, we’re joined by one of boxing’s most respected voices, Andy Clarke, lead commentator for Sky Sports Boxing. With over two decades in the industry, Andy has earned a stellar reputation for his sharp analysis and eloquent commentary, having called some of the biggest fights across more than 25 countries. Beyond the ring, Andy’s commentary career spans the Olym...

Send us a text Welcome back to Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we're joined by two brilliant minds in neurosurgery and concussion research: Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Raj Lavadi, Resident Physician and concussion researcher. Dr. Agarwal brings a wealth of experience as a board-certified neurosurgeon, educator, and prolific author with over 300 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Lavadi, currently in residency at Indian ...