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…
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).…
We meet our hosts! Miriam and Cassandra talk about what got them interested in brain injury, including the educational @memorialuniversity @mohawkcollege 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,…
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…
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…
Geprgia Banjo is currently a correspondent for @TheEconomist and you can read her cover story about Britain's NHS (National Health Service) through the link on my website. Long before joining The Economist she was dealt a serious, perspective changing health event herself, encephalitis. She was only 16 at the time…
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…
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…
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…
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!…
Welcome to another fun episode of the Brainiac podcast (episode 8, season 3 woot!) hosted by Melissa Biscardi @concussionrehab in affiliation with University of Toronto, Concussion Legacy Foundation @concussionlegacyfoundation9708 Today we have Part 2 with our friend, concussion advocate, veteran and so much more- Amanda Burrill. In this episode Amanda…
Dr. Valera is an Associate Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School@harvardmedicalschool 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,…
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…
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,…
Welcome to the Brainiac podcast! In this episode Brainiac host Melissa Biscardi @concussionrehab 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…
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…
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!
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…
Amanda Burrill @amandaburrill3768 is a U.S. Navy @USNavy 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…
Mack Hancock (and his group of engaged CLFC - Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada @concussionlegacyfoundation9708 @DalhousieU students) talks to youth, in and around Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, about concussions. His podcast, The Untangled Podcast @untangled.podcast is also all about concussions and is available wherever you are! We talk hockey, baseline testing…
Melissa Biscardi, nurse, concussion clinician @concussionrehab , PhD student at the University of Toronto and host of Brainiac @concussionlegacyfoundation9708 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 19:53). I mistakenly…
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 @concussionlegacyfoundation9708 aim to address this by encouraging greater research into the effects of TBI on military…
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…
This podcast and video is a discussion between Erica Norman (episode 128), Jennifer Smith (episode 141) and I (Nick Mercer) talk about what we've discovered since our brain injuries. They're all different and they're all positive! I/we hope this is an uplifting episode! We hope this becomes a mini-series within…
