Jan. 17, 2021

Episode 12 - Acceptance & Reducing Self-blame (Louis)

Louis, currently enrolled at Carleton University, is a former Rugby player, and athlete, who retired prematurely due to numerous concussions. He now spends his time playing and listening to music, reading and working out. We discuss acceptance and self-blame after concussion. Concussion Chats is a podcast hosted by the McGill…

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Dec. 20, 2020

Interview Series Episode 1 -Dr. Hilary Duncan, neuropsychologist

Dr. Hilary Duncan is a clinical psychologist with over 10 years of professional experience, including 8 years at Concordia University where she completed specialized training in neuropsychological assessment. Her training includes positions at the ADHD Clinic of the Royal Victoria Hospital, The Jewish General Hospital Memory Clinic, and the Johns…

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Dec. 7, 2020

Episode 77 - Brain Injury Challenges; Mountains of my Mind (Jill Wheatley)

On episode 77 Jill Wheatley, Mountains of my Mind, tells the story of how a baseball to her head in Germany has led her to Nepal. Jill's story is about hopes, dreams, and their fluidity. How they change, yet bring even greater joy!

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Dec. 6, 2020

Episode 10 - Understanding & Learning about TBI (Marc P.)

Marc suffered a concussion almost 9 years ago playing basketball. He has been collecting ways of dealing with his symptoms ever since. He is an educator in a learning centre, a part-time professor and a proud father. A short description, but an excellent, inward looking talk. Marc understands that the…

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Nov. 29, 2020

Episode 9 - Concussions, allopathic medicine, holistic medicine (David B.)

David first became injured in August of 2006 following 2 mTBIs within 10-minutes. He also suffers from fibromyalgia and PTSD amoungst other injuries and damages. Learning to free himself form an unhelpful medical system was the best move he ever made and it kept him alive to this day. He…

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Nov. 26, 2020

Episode 3 – Concussion stories, insight & inspiration with Sophia Gutierrez

On the third episode of BRAINIAC, Edina Bijvoet, president of the University of Toronto chapter of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, will interview Sophia Gutierrez, a University of Toronto Kinesiology student. Sophia has sustained 2 concussions, and shares her concussion story with listeners. Although Sophia has an extensive sport background, one…

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Nov. 23, 2020

Episode 76 - Talking Brain Injury, Concussion Awareness & Recovery with Curtis Anderson

On episode 76 of Concussion Talk Podcast, Erin and I talk to Curtis Anderson about concussion awareness and how being aware is so important in averting another brain injury. Curtis talks about his how his brain injury occurred in at a rodeo bull riding competition just weeks after he sustained…

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Nov. 23, 2020

Episode 8 – Neuro optometric rehab & neuro-plasticity (Cathy E.G.)

Cathy is a five-year survivor of traumatic brain injury that works as a key player for a variety of different types of companies. She is passionate about neuroscience and TBI recovery. She will be sharing her story of overcoming adversity through self-advocacy and about her recovery that has been centered…

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Nov. 16, 2020

Episode 75 - Helping out at Memorial University of Newfoundland Med School

On episode 75 Erin interviews me about being a Standardized Patient at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) Med School (St. John's, NL, Canada). I've been doing this since 2018, thanks to my GP Dr. Jessica Bishop. It's an excellent program where second year medical students are able to interact/"examine" people…

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Nov. 15, 2020

Episode 7 - Additive brain injuries, medical and holistic treatments (Refael Hileman)

Refael Hileman grew up in Seattle and now lives in Silver Spring, MD. He studied many different areas in college, majoring in dance. His career has been in various IT and business capacities. He enjoys singing, cycling, reading, kettlebells, and ultimate frisbee when it's available. Concussion Chats is a podcast…

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Nov. 10, 2020

Episode 74 – Post Concussion Syndrome and Being Happy (Ryan Phillips)

On episode 74, Erin and I talk to Ryan Phillips as he delves into his love of hockey, concussions that derailed his burgeoning career as a pro hockey player, and his subsequent off-ice challenges. Ryan talks about his ongoing experience with PCS (post concussion syndrome), how he deals with it,…

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Nov. 8, 2020

Episode 6 - Marion Gittings; Social Work, CBT, Suicide Awareness

*Trigger Warning* Suicide is discussed in this episode Marion earned a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Wilmington, North Carolina. She has worked as a social worker since 1992 in…

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Nov. 5, 2020

Keep Your Head Up - TBI Through the Eyes of…Athletic Therapists

Felicia and Allie from Keep Your Head Up @keepyourheadupKW share a segment that they have launched on their Instagram called TBI Through the Eyes of Others. Through this series, they aim to share insights from members of an individual’s circle of support following a concussion. In today’s episode Allie and…

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Nov. 2, 2020

Episode 73 - Introducing & Interviewing New Co-Host Erin Guilfoyle

A brief introduction and interview to my new co-host Erin Guilfoyle. Erin has a background in Behavioural Neuroscience, criminology and brain disorders management. We chat about her background, current work, including her role as Coordinator of Programs & Services at the Newfoundland & Labrador Brain Injury Association (NLBIA), and hopes…

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Nov. 2, 2020

Episode 5 – Mental Rehabilitation, Habit Creation (Ella Sofia)

Ella Sofia, Habit Coach is a content creator at www.retrainyourbrain.ca. In January 2008, at age 14, Ella suffered a hemorrhagic stroke due to an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) rupture in her cerebellum. About 9 years after her injury, through a long process of self-care and self-reflection, she realized that mental rehabilitation…

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Oct. 27, 2020

Episode 72 – Concussion & Post Concussion Syndrome as a teen/pre-teen (Alexandra Di Persio)

Alexa Di Persio was 12 years old when she was diagnosed with a concussion. Now, six and a half years later, she has entered her second year at the University of Toronto in French and Drama, but still dealing with post concussion syndrome (PCS). Alexa talks about the challenges PCS…

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Oct. 26, 2020

Episode 4 – Dane Wagner; PCS, Football, Insight, Acceptance

Dane is a former Mcgill University linebacker and recent grad who stopped playing football due to concussions. Dane now spends his free time running, playing volleyball, exploring new music and recipes. Concussion Chats is a podcast hosted by the McGill Students for the Concussion Legacy Foundation, with the help of…

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Oct. 18, 2020

Episode 3 – Alexa Dipersio; concussion and future plans

Alexandra is a 2nd year student at University of Toronto and has been suffering from PCS (post concussion syndrome/persistent concussion symptoms/prolonged concussion symptoms) for 6 and a half years. Although she was forced to stop dancing, she has continued her love of performance by acting and singing in her room…

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Oct. 15, 2020

Episode 2 – Diet, Pandemic, Symptoms; a Concussion Experience with Nicola Bijvoet

On the second episode of BRAINIAC, Edina Bijvoet, president of the University of Toronto chapter of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, will interview Nicola Bijvoet, a University of Toronto Rotman Commerce student. Nicola sustained a concussion 5 months ago and is still experiencing symptoms. She has been maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet…

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Oct. 13, 2020

Episode 2 – Kristine Freelund, alternative modalities

Kristine is an mTBI survivor who found power in brain entrainment and alternative modalities. Part of her mission now is to help other TBI survivors on their journey to find strength in their new normal. Instagram: @tbithriver Concussion Chats is a podcast hosted by the McGill Students for the Concussion…

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Oct. 5, 2020

Episode 1 – Speaker, Emily Fraser, Support Group, & Discussion

Welcome to the first episode of Concussion Chats – the podcast of McGill Students for Concussion Legacy Foundation! They hold concussion support groups twice weekly via Zoom; Monday at 7pm ET, Thursday at 10am ET . Anyone is welcome. Check out the podcast description for more info! Emily Fraser shares…

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Sept. 30, 2020

Episode 71 – Concussion Comunicación (LatinxATs Dr Alejandra Merriman y Oscar Lopez-Huerta LAT, ATC)

I completed Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) in 2014, but geography, along with other circumstances, mean that my exposure to Spanish is limited, and I’m far from fluent. Nevertheless, it was a great course, I learned a lot, it wouldn’t take long to get up to speed, and at the…

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Sept. 29, 2020

Episode 5 – Passport to Concussion Recovery: Collaborative Care with Dr Shannon Bauman

Dr. Shannon Bauman, Medical Director of Concussion North (Barrie, ON) BS, BScN, MD, CCFP (SEM), Dip. Sport Med. Each patient’s journey to concussion recovery is different. The complexity of a concussion injury alone can be overwhelming and difficult for individuals to understand, let alone monitoring the trajectory of their recovery…

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Sept. 16, 2020

BRAINIAC, Episode 1 – Post Concussion Syndrome; an interview with Joseph Carere

On the first episode of BRAINIAC, Edina Bijvoet, president of the University of Toronto chapter of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, will introduce the podcast and interview Joseph Carere, a University of Toronto graduate. Joseph Carere has been living with post concussion syndrome for 6 years and has undergone numerous therapies…

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