Isobel Whitcomb is a trail runner, a writer and a science journalist who, what's most relevant to this podcast, wrote an excellent article about their experience going through their own concussion and recovery, "How We Got Concussions So Wrong" for Slate. We talk about what they've learned, what people need to know, and more! I hope you listen and read their excellent article. Please subscribe, rate, and review this podcast everywhere, including YouTube ! Check out the podcast sponsors HeadCheck...
Apr 10, 2024•51 min•Ep. 165
I misspoke in the intro, it's episode 164, not 165. From player to coach, coach to triathlete, triathlete to coach, Paul Moores wasn't daunted by life events. He lived them and went to what he loves doing; coaching and helping others. Paul talks about his spectacular bike crash during an Ironman Triathlon in Mount Tremblant, Quebec. A coach, at all many levels, for much of his life, Paul took about a ten year hiatus until his rehab psychologist, encouraged him to get back to teaching, leading, e...
Oct 24, 2023•32 min•Ep. 164
Episode 163 is with the Zach Hudson, the Program Manager of the Peer Mentorship Program at Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado (BIAC). A focused, inclusive and encompassing organization, BIAC provides many different levels of support to brain injury survivors. This includes plenty of educational material for kids, adults, medical professionals and the public - on all TBIs, including concussion. Of course, it also has an excellent and valuable peer support program! BIAC also has an excellent websit...
Aug 29, 2023•34 min•Ep. 163
I've taken some time off from podcasting this summer, but as the 20th anniversary of my brain injury approached I found myself wanting to do another episode! Hence episode 162 with Pam Prewett and the Victoria Brain Injury Society (VBIS), Victoria, B.C., Canada . It is where I was doing my Masters in Public Administration (MPA) when I was in a nasty bike crash that put me in a coma for two weeks and resulted in a severe brain injury - as discussed in episode 100 and in my ebook, Detour. I encour...
Aug 08, 2023•36 min•Ep. 162
Dysautonomia is a blanket term describing a disorder of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). As such, it covers a lot of important issues from mild to severe. Often the signs and symptoms of dysautonomia manifest following a concussion. Luckily, DPT Lauren Ziaks is always here (well, not HERE, here. 5,685km west, here) to tell me all about it. Lauren talks about dysautonomia treatment and the research she has done along with DPT Jenna Tucker. Check out her work on Phoenix Concussion Recovery ! Pl...
Jul 04, 2023•45 min•Ep. 161
For the final episode of Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada, Cassandra and Miriam of the NLBIA (Newfoundland and Labrador Brain Injury Association) talk to Cst. James Cadigan of the RNC (Royal Newfoundland Constabulary) about IPV (Intimate Partner Violence), one of the most pervasive causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). There are many complicated reasons why TBIs caused by IPV are so often undiagnosed and unreported. Dr. Eve Valera briefly talked about some of those potential reasons on...
Jun 27, 2023•18 min•Ep. 160
We meet our hosts! Miriam and Cassandra talk about what got them interested in brain injury, including the educational and personal aspects. They also talk about the great work the NLBIA is doing to positively affect the lives of people with brain injury, and their family and friends, notably the ABLE group (Adults Living with Brain injury Everyday). Building off last week's conversation with Ashley Hiscock (Ep 158) , Cassandra talks about the efforts of the NLBIA to bring concussion awareness a...
Jun 20, 2023•21 min•Ep. 159
Ashley has been a guest several times on the podcast. The first time it was because I was interested in concussions in cheer (Ashley was the coach of MUN Cheer for several years). Since then, her already impressive understanding of concussion has only grown! Her knowledge of concussion through the lens of an athletic therapist (her clinic is Premier Athletic Therapy & Sports Medicine in St, John's, NL) is an excellent place from which to impart concussion awareness and education, especially ...
Jun 13, 2023•16 min•Ep. 158
June is Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada, so Cassandra, Coordinator of Programs and Services and Miriam, Summer Student, at the Newfoundland and Labrador Brain Injury Association (NLBIA) are hosting the podcast this month! For this episode, Erica, Jennifer (from episodes 143 and 148), Kerilee (another NLBIA board member) and I talk about our injuries, challenges and thoughts with the hope of improving awareness of the different types of brain injury! Please subscribe, rate, and review! Ple...
Jun 06, 2023•43 min•Ep. 157
Geprgia Banjo is currently a correspondent for The Economist and you can read her cover story about Britain's NHS (National Health Service) here . Long before joining The Economist she was dealt a serious, perspective changing health event herself, encephalitis. She was only 16 at the time and after university and when she deemed she was "recovered" she decided she wanted to help people with brain injuries by working as a Brain Injury Support worker for the Headway , a brain injury association i...
May 30, 2023•33 min•Ep. 156
Isabel is an athlete, a sister, an entrepreneur and an engineer. With all of theses components, and along with a good advisory team, Isabel and Vistendo are working to provide a highly effective, hospital-approved mobile concussion diagnosis device! We talk about the story behind Vistendo and how she went from her engineering degree straight into the world of brain injury. Isabel is the CEO and founder of Vistendo , a company she established right out of university. Follow Vistendo on Instagram ...
May 09, 2023•35 min•Ep. 155
Concussion can happen to anybody. Competitiveness and enjoyment of sports can mean the same thing; taking to sports with gusto! It can also mean increasing the risk of injury. As a physiotherapist Cillian was aware of concussions and the general, albeit vague, protocols one is recommended to follow, but when he was concussed, it was the rarely discussed emotional/mental health symptoms that presented themselves. Cillian came through with his enthusiasm and love of life and now works as a physio ...
May 02, 2023•49 min•Ep. 154
Jim Scott tells his story about how he was severely brain injured in 2006 in his book " More Than a Speed Bump ". I first heard Jim on Dr. Jen Blanchette's podcast, The TBI Therapist . On this podcast he talks about his rehab and recovery in Boston, his incredibly supportive family and about how he connected to a great group of people, even through his initial reluctance, at Krempels Center , a brain injury center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was great to talk to someone who, even through ve...
Apr 25, 2023•35 min•Ep. 153
Jim Flood had a severe brain injury in 2005. Victoria Jackman is rehabilitating from brain surgery in January 2023. Together the two have started teaching neuro-divergent children Jim's neuro-defence program, helping to coordinate the brain, mind and body. We talk about brain injury, rehabilitation, exercise, the mind-brain-body connection and more! Check out the program in action in the CBC piece. Check them out on Facebook - Neuro Defence Email: neurodefenceprogram@gmail.com Please subscribe, ...
Apr 18, 2023•40 min•Ep. 152
Welcome to another fun episode of the Brainiac podcast (episode 8, season 3 woot!) hosted by Melissa Biscardi in affiliation with University of Toronto, Concussion Legacy Foundation. Today we have Part 2 with our friend, concussion advocate, veteran and so much more- Amanda Burrill. In this episode Amanda shares about some life changing concussions that happened and how she found her way to some amazing clinicians and clinics across the USA. She shares about how she chose activities she could ma...
Apr 13, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Dr. Valera is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School , Director of Valera Lab , Psychiatric Neuroscience Division, and Research Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital . We discuss her focus on Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) resulting from Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). This is an area of TBI that has been under-studied, especially given the unfortunately high prevalence. Dr. Valera mentions several excellent sources of information for TBI and IPV researchers, and fo...
Apr 11, 2023•44 min•Ep. 151
My good friend Goulet was my first ever guest on Concussion Talk Podcast way back in episode 2! Dr. Kristian Goulet, of the University of Ottawa and ActiveCare Medical Group , joins me 148 episodes later to talk about his paediatric practice in Ottawa where he specializes in paediatric sports medicine and concussion. We talk about concussion, concussion management, treatment, and more, stemming from his paper (position paper), along with colleague Dr. Suzanne Beno, "Sport-related concussion and ...
Apr 04, 2023•40 min•Ep. 150
Dr. David Smith is the inventor of the Q-Collar and the author of the recently published "When Heads Come Together" , which describes how the nature has addressed the issue of brain trauma in woodpeckers and rams and how that is applicable to humans. Dr. Smith talks about the biomechanics, biology, physics and hydrodynamics that are at play. At the end we touch on our shared love for water polo! Please support Concussion Talk Podcast by checking out and supporting the advertisers at www.concussi...
Mar 28, 2023•33 min•Ep. 149
Welcome to the Brainiac podcast! In this episode Brainiac host Melissa Biscardi speaks with Amanda Burrill, a TBI advocate, veteran, chef, adventurist and more. Amanda shares her story, how she became a rescue swimmer, her journey to learning she has a TBI (or a few) and the health providers she has met along the way. Amanda carries such a positive energy, and is always working towards living her life to the fullest. She knew about holistic brain care 'before it was cool' as we like to say. Aman...
Mar 27, 2023•51 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Welcome to Episode 6 of the Brainiac podcast with host Melissa Biscardi and fantastic guest Sara Pukal. Melissa and Sara have known each other for years, from studying together, working together and now teaching together they are a fun and dynamic duo. In this episode they talk about the benefits of manual therapy to the face and head, movement of the cranial bones (and why they need to move!), a holistic approach to healing in concussion, working with a team of practitioners, and dig into Sara'...
Mar 22, 2023•19 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Erica, Jennifer and I discuss our brain injuries again! We talk about the life experience of a brain injury, acceptance, opportunity cost, mental health and more! Have a listen and check out the video on Concussion Talk Podcasts's YouTube channel! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/concussion-talk-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 21, 2023•39 min•Ep. 148
Welcome to Episode 5 of the Brainiac podcast with host Melissa Biscardi. This solo episode is a short and sweet dive into thinking about manual therapy to the head and face as part of concussion recovery. Melissa talks about the importance of a holistic approach that includes manual therapy to affected tissues. Every concussion involves a degree of whiplash and cranial tissue strain. Clinicians are encouraged to add this skill to their tool box and concussion warriors are encouraged to seek out ...
Mar 17, 2023•22 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Amanda Burrill is a U.S. Navy Veteran, a chef, a journalist, a triathlete, a mountaineer and more, but most importantly, Amanda is a brain injury advocate! First brain injured in 2003 after a fall aboard a ship, but not diagnosed, Amanda went on with her adventurous and challenging lifestyle for many years and received many concussions. In her quest for information about, and finally understanding her own brain, Amanda has become a passionate advocate for brain injury awareness! We also talk abo...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 147
Mack Hancock (and his group of engaged CLFC - Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada , Dalhousie University students) talks to youth, in and around Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, about concussions. His podcast, The Untangled Podcast , is also all about concussions and is available wherever you are! We talk hockey, baseline testing and the potential for concussion biomarkers. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/concussion-talk-podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
Feb 28, 2023•30 min•Ep. 146
Melissa Biscardi, nurse, concussion clinician, PhD student at the University of Toronto and host of Brainiac podcast joins me to discuss all of it! She's also a black belt in jiu jitsu and we briefly talk about that! *correction* Melissa mentions Dr. Carrick (at the 20:19 audio & 19:53 video). I mistakenly say that Tracy Lin, PT, did some training under Dr. Carrick, but it was actually the Upledger Institute in Florida. I apologize for the confusion and to Tracy. Support this show http://sup...
Feb 21, 2023•32 min•Ep. 145
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are significant problems for the military (in this case, Canadian, but every military is affected). Project Enlist Canada and the Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada aim to address this by encouraging greater research into the effects of TBI on military personnel. To talk about Project Enlist Canada is Outreach Coordinator, Michael Terry, a 23 year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, ...
Feb 14, 2023•29 min•Ep. 144
This podcast and video (check it out @concussiontalk on YouTube) is a discussion between Erica Norman ( episode 128 ), Jennifer Smith ( episode 141 ) and me (Nick Mercer). We talk about what we've discovered since our brain injuries.*Turn up your volume!* They're all different and they're all positive! I/we hope this is an uplifting episode and that this becomes a mini-series within Concussion Talk Podcast! We really liked talking to each other and there's so much to say! As for another discussi...
Feb 07, 2023•44 min•Ep. 143
Welcome to Episode 4 of this season's Brainiac podcast! Brainiac host Melissa Biscardi is joined by Dr. Brigetta (pronounced Brig-ee-ta) a naturopathic doctor and paramedic who recently packed her bags and moved from Canada to Sweden to bring concussion care across the ocean. This episode is a fun and informative chat on the topic of moving to Sweden, sleep, why we sleep, the intersection of sleep and concussion and some dangers/warnings around over the counter sleep medications. As always, chec...
Feb 03, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Mike Wahl is professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland Med School, a public speaker, a health and wellness entrepreneur, a TV, radio and podcast host and the guest speaker at the Newfoundland and Labrador Brain Injury Association's (NLBIA's) Dinner and Dance on February 10. We talk about a holistic approach to health, fitness and, of course, brain injury. While brain injury is unique to every person, it happens to a person, not just the brain. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/...
Jan 31, 2023•28 min•Ep. 142
In this solo episode of the Brainiac podcast, Melissa briefly covers the different phenotypes, also known as subtypes, of concussion. Phenotypes are a way to organize symptoms and then use this information to guide rehabilitation decisions and recovery in a methodological way. While there is some variation on phenotypes depending on the research article and team, Melissa discusses the signs and symptoms of cervicogenic, oculomotor, vestibular, psychological, autonomic, metabolic and inflammatory...
Jan 18, 2023•26 min•Season 3Ep. 3
