What if depression, PTSD, and brain fog aren’t psychological… but biological—and measurable? For decades, brain trauma has been misunderstood. Veterans, athletes, and everyday people have been told their symptoms—depression, anxiety, brain fog—are psychological… or worse, dismissed entirely. Mark Gordon and Jeremy Bowling join Paul and Corey
What if depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts aren’t “mental health issues”… —but signs of a damaged brain that can actually heal? This might be one of the most important conversations we’ve had. In this episode of The HeadRush Podcast, we sit down with world-renowned psychiatrist and brain health pioneer Dr. Daniel Amen—a physician who has analyzed over 300,000 brain scans across 155 countries.
“He was in pain for a long time… and nobody fully understood why.” The story of a rodeo cowboy, Pete Kennedy through the voices of the people who loved him most. His family shares the difficult journey through memory loss, personality changes, depression, rage, addiction, and eventual suicide after years of repeated head trauma in rodeo. Paul & Corey also share their own battles with suspected CTE, neurological decline, & suicidal ideation — opening a brutally honest conversation.
A year after rodeo legend Pete Kennedy's death, his family finally received answers. His brain was donated to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, where scientists searched for evidence of CTE and the lasting effects of repeated head impacts. What they discovered brought validation, new questions, and a deeper understanding of the invisible struggles Pete faced. When rodeo cowboy Pete Kennedy tragically lost his life, his family was left searching for answers. In this powerful follow-up episode, Pete's son KC Kennedy returns to The HeadRush Podcast alongside neuropathologist Dr. Julia Kofler from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology—the physician who personally examined Pete's brain after it was donated for research. Together, they walk through the brain donation process, the autopsy findings, what researchers discovered, and the difficult reality that science is still uncovering the full impact of repeated head trauma. This conversation explores CTE, traumatic brain injury, mental health, grief, brain donation, and the urgent need for continued research. It also highlights the courage of families who choose to turn tragedy into knowledge that may help future generations of athletes, veterans, and anyone exposed to repeated head impacts. Whether you're a parent, athlete, coach, veteran, medical professional, or someone seeking answers about brain health, this episode is an important reminder that awareness, research, and hope continue to move us forward.
Topics Covered:
• Pete Kennedy's brain donation • CTE research and diagnosis • Repeated head impacts in rodeo • Mental health and brain trauma • Brain banking and autopsy science • The role of families in advancing research • Hope for future generations
Supported by:
Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation | Millennium Health Centers | Millennium Health Store | Paradise Behavioral Health | MC Wellness
If these conversations matter to you, please support The HeadRush Foundation and help us continue raising awareness, education, and hope for those affected by brain trauma.
Can brain health actually improve after years of repeated head impacts? After six months of treatments, testing, therapies, and lifestyle changes, Paul Frase and Corey Berry share what's helping, what's not, and what they've learned along the way.
In this episode, they discuss: 🧠 The Brain Well Program 🧠 Precision Psychiatry 🧠 The Millennium Protocol 🧠 Hormone Optimization 🧠 Genetics and Biomarkers 🧠 Brain Inflammation 🧠 Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation) 🧠 Supplements and Nutrition 🧠 Mental Health vs Brain Health 🧠 Finding the Right Doctors 🧠 Hope After Traumatic Brain Injury They also discuss helping individuals and families affected by TBI, repeated head impacts, blast exposure, TES, and CTE find resources, treatment options, and support. If you or someone you love is struggling with symptoms related to brain trauma, know that there are people fighting for answers—and there is reason to remain hopeful.
Supported By 🧠 Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation 🧠 Millennium Health Centers 🧠 Millennium Health Store 🧠 Paradise Behavioral Health 🧠 MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S 🧠 Ambio Life Sciences
Support The HeadRush Foundation
The HeadRush Foundation helps individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injury, repeated head impacts, blast exposure, and related neurological challenges access education, support, and hope.
🎧 Watch more episodes at HeadRushPodcast.com 👍 Like 💬 Comment 🔔 Subscribe 📤 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it
Featuring: @paradisebehavioralhealth @millenniumhealthstore1031 @patrickrishacteawareness @TheMacParkmanFoundation @concussionandcte @ambiolifesciences @AmenClinic @paulfrase91 #headrushpodcast #podcast #traumainformed #headrushfoundation #concussionawareness #concussion #sports #brainhealth #mentalhealth
Memory loss. Depression. Brain fog. Mood swings. Are these mental health issues—or signs of brain trauma? What does brain injury actually look like in real life? Former NFL player Paul Frase and former professional rodeo athlete Corey Berry discuss the symptoms often associated with CTE, TES, traumatic brain injury (TBI), repeated head impacts (RHI), and repeated blast exposure (RBE).
They explore: ✔ Memory loss ✔ Executive dysfunction ✔ Brain fog ✔ Depression ✔ Anxiety ✔ Suicidal ideation ✔ Mood swings ✔ Impulsivity ✔ Parkinsonism symptoms ✔ Balance and coordination issues ✔ Addiction and substance misuse ✔ The therapies they're using to improve brain health
This episode combines personal experience with research from leading brain health institutions to help people better understand the possible long-term effects of brain trauma and what options may exist for recovery and support. If you're dealing with brain injury symptoms—or supporting someone who is—this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations focused on brain health, hope, recovery, and education.
This episode is made possible by the support of: • Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation • Millennium Health Centers • Millennium Health Store • Paradise Behavioral Health & BrainWell Program • MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S • Ambio Life Sciences Subscribe for more conversations about brain health, recovery, education, and hope. #CTE #TES #TBI #BrainInjury #BrainHealth #Concussion #MentalHealth #NeuroHealth #HeadRushPodcast
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A former NFL player dies.
The media blames his past.
But what if the real story is far more complicated? Paul Frase, Corey Berry and former Oregon State linebacker Rico Petrini discuss CTE, repeated head trauma, addiction, mental health, and why compassion should come before condemnation. Every time a former athlete struggles, the public is quick to assign blame. But what if brain injury is part of the conversation?
In this powerful discussion, Paul Frase, Corey Berry, and former Oregon State linebacker Rico Petrini examine the recent conversation surrounding former NFL player Aldon Smith and the public debate surrounding CTE. Topics include: • Repeated Head Impacts (RHI) • Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) • Addiction and brain injury • Mental health after football • Why families deserve answers • Why players shouldn't be reduced to headlines • Hope through education and treatment
The HeadRush Podcast exists to educate, raise awareness, and help families affected by brain trauma discover hope through science, treatment, and honest conversation.
A special thank you to our sponsors for making these important conversations possible: • Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation • Ambio Life Sciences • Millennium Health Centers • Millennium Health Store • Paradise Behavioral Health – Brain Well Program • MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S
Please support the organizations that support the HeadRush Podcast and our mission to educate, advocate, and bring hope to those living with brain injuries.
👍 Subscribe, Like, Comment, and Share to help us reach more athletes, veterans, first responders, caregivers, and families.
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Can light actually help heal the brain? Former BYU Hall of Fame linebacker and exercise physiologist Dr. Larry Carr joins Paul Frase and Corey Berry to discuss one of the most exciting areas of brain injury research today: photobiomodulation (near-infrared light therapy). After struggling with severe symptoms believed to be related to repetitive head trauma, Dr. Carr became one of the first former football players to participate in groundbreaking research that changed the course of his life.
In this episode you'll learn: 🏈 Dr. Carr's football journey 🧠 The science behind brain inflammation 💡 How photobiomodulation works 📊 The remarkable BYU football research 🎯 Brain health, cognition, PTSD and depression ❤️ Why there is real hope for people living with brain injuries
If this episode helps you, please Like, Subscribe and Share it with someone who needs to hear this message.
Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation Millennium Health Centers Millennium Health Store Paradise Behavioral Health MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S Ambio Life Sciences Vielight, Inc.
Interested in photobiomodulation? Use promo code: HEADRUSHVL when ordering your Vielight device.
Featuring: @VielightInc @AmenClinic @millenniumhealthstore1031 @paradisebehavioralhealth @concussionandcte @nflpa #headrushpodcast #podcast #traumainformed #headrushfoundation #concussion #concussionawareness #sports #vielight #brainhealth
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