Send a text

In this episode, we’re honoured to be re-joined by Professor Amanda Ellison who disced all things about the brain and headaches on episode 92, Splitting: The Inside Story on Headaches

Professor Ellison has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers, earning close to 3,000 citations, with research spanning visual neuroscience, sensorimotor systems, and neuronal disruption in conditions such as migraine and headache disorders. Her work provides valuable insight into how the brain functions—and malfunctions—following injury or dysfunction.

Alongside her academic research, Professor Ellison is a passionate science communicator and the author of Getting Your Head Around the Brain and Splitting: The Inside Story on Headaches, two widely respected books that translate complex neuroscience into accessible, real-world understanding.

02:00 - The Love for Action Potentials

04:20 – What is Neuron and Why are the Special?

07:30 – It Does Not Like the Text Book

11:00 – What is an Action Potential and What is the Physiology Behind it?

24:30 –How Neurons Communicate

29:35 - The Story of Camillo Golgi and Santiago Ramón Cajal

34:35 – Chemical Signals of Action Potentials

43:50 – Mitochondria, ATP and Sodium Potassium Pumps

47:00 – Conceptualizing it All

54:10 – Fatigue, ATP and mTBI

59:00 – Calcium’s Role

01:08:54 – Favourite Thing About Professor Ellison’s Work

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-z_DSs4AAAAJ&hl=en

Splitting: Inside Story on Headaches (https://www.amazon.com.au/Splitting-Inside-Headaches-Amanda-Ellison/dp/1472971396)

Getting Your Head Around The Brain: https://www.amazon.com.au/Getting-your-head-around-brain-ebook/dp/B09HZ9FVSR?ref_=ast_author_dp

Subscribe, review and share for new episodes which will drop weekly

Social media:

Twitter: @first concussion

Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast

Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion

Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

Send a text

Dr. Deana Simonetto is a sociologist and Assistant Professor of History and Sociology at UBC Okanagan. Her research examines crime and deviance, gender, families, and sport, with a focus on how women navigate public identities while married to professional athletes.

Dr. Daniel Sailofsky is an Assistant Professor in Kinesiology & Physical Education at the University of Toronto. A sociologist with a background in law and sport management, his work explores violence, gender, social harm, and the political economy of sport. He is the author of Playing Through Pain: The Violent Consequences of Capitalist Sport.

01:40 - How Dr Simonetto Become Involved in Concussion, Sociology of Sport & gender

04:10 - How Dr Sailofsky Become Involved in Concussion, Sociology of Sport & gender

09:55 – What is a Concussion/ CTE (Dr Simonetto)

13:50 - What is a Concussion/ CTE (Dr Sailofsky)

17:20 – Athlete’s as a Commodity, Fans as the Consumer and Sporting Work Place Injuries

21:15 – Athlete’s Identity and Cognitive Decline Post Career

29:00 – Impact of Neurodegenerative Disease

32:15 – Autonomy and Informed Consent of One’s Decisions

36:45 - Care Giver Burden of Neurodegenerative Disease and Inter Personal Violence

46:00 – The CTE Defence and Removal of Blame For Inter Personal Violence

50:15 – Relationship Breakdowns

Subscribe, review and share for new episodes which will drop weekly

Social media:

Twitter: @first concussion

Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast

Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion

Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

Send a text

Wendy Smith is a dedicated advocate for concussion awareness, athlete wellbeing, and brain safety in sport. Following the tragic loss of her son, Antonio Lo Lacono, in 2023 after a head injury on the sporting field, Wendy transformed profound heartbreak into purpose. She is the driving force behind Happy Lid Hats, with proceeds supporting the Concussion Legacy Foundation and vital brain health research. We are deeply grateful to Wendy for sharing her story and for her unwavering commitment to making sport safer for all.

02:40 - Happy Lids Mission

03:40 – Incident on the Football Field

06:25 – Air Lifted for the Football Field

10:00 – Explanation in the Hospital

12:04 - Organ Donation and Antonio Saving the Lives of Others

17:00 – Second Impact Syndrome

19:33 - Education and Meaningful Culture

23:20 – Concussion Awareness

26:11 – Removing Stigma of Concussion & Happy Lid

Happy Lids

https://www.happylids.com.au

Instagram: @happy_lids

Subscribe, review and share for new episodes which will drop weekly

Social media:

Twitter: @first concussion

Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast

Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion

Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com