Heads 'N Tales Podcast-Talking Sports Injury Rehab, Prevention, Perseverance, Concussions & Athlete Transition

103 : Changing The Landscape of Adaptive Sports w/ Pro Basketball Player, Ryan Martin

Kevin Saum — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 19:03:56 +0000

Ryan Martin is a professional basketball player, President of the Ryan Martin Foundation, motivational speaker and a coach. Ryan was born with Spina Bifida and, at the age of two, had both of his legs amputated to prevent complications with infection.

Basketball transformed Ryan's world from "wheelchair bound" to bound for college, bound for professional basketball, and bound for traveling overseas. In 2007, Ryan joined the professional basketball league in Europe, completing 10 seasons in both Spain and France. This season Ryan is playing for the New York Rolling Knicks of the NWBA.

Before Ryan went pro, he attended college at Southwest Minnesota State University and led SMSU to the NWBA National Title Game in 2001. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in Secondary Education with a minor in Sociology. After graduation, Ryan joined the Phoenix Wheelchair Suns and played in the 2005 NWBA All-Star games.

Along with establishing his foundation, Ryan is a consultant for the NCAA on their Inclusive Sports Model. A large portion of our conversation in episode 103 was dedicated to learning about the tremendous work Ryan is doing with the NCAA to improve adaptive sports opportunities in college athletics.

Below are some additional topics covered in episode 103:

Explanation of spina bifada
Ryan's upbringing and what is was like for him to be adopted into a family with other children with special needs.
Ryan's work with veterans, teaching them to play basketball and their transition process.
- "Its not about how you got there, its about how you deal with your situation"
Why Ryan feels his disability has opened more doors than have been closed for him.
The importance of reaching your maximum potential and seizing the opportunities that come your way.
The role of effort in overcoming obstacles.
Rules and regulations of wheelchair basketball.
Why height is still unbeatable in wheelchair basketball.
The unique challenges presented to the athletes who play wheelchair basketball.
How sports helped Ryan build confidence and fit in and how he is trying to pay it forward today.
Ryan's message about bullying.
Why how you carry yourself is how you are perceived.
Current projects Ryan is working on through the Ryan Martin Foundation.
- Creating adaptive sports programs throughout the NCAA as a means of creating diverse environments.
Adaptive sports program starting up at the University of Connecticut.
The potential societal impact of adaptive sports.
Staying healthy in the sport of wheelchair basketball and maximising longevity.

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT RYAN MARTIN FOUNDATION?

WEBSITE | DONATE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Ryan?

INstagram | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 103 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 10 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Thursday Night Games, Sherman's Achilles, Wilson/Brisset/Freeman Concussion Protocol, Teddy's Return

Kevin Saum — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 03:03:32 +0000

After each week of NFL football games for the 2017-2018 season, the Heads 'N Tales podcast will be posting an episode dedicated to injuries and health & safety topics surrounding the NFL. Specifically we will talk about possible prevention strategies, the rulebook, equipment and other injury buzz around the league. My co-host and strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd (hence the J in "JK"..I'm the K...). Josh and I grew up playing baseball together. Josh was a division-1 center fielder for Monmouth University and experienced his fair share of injuries throughout his career. Although Josh never played organized football, the dude flat-out knows the game of football and undoubtably knows more about the ins-and-outs of the sport better than I do from both a fan and x's & o's perspective. Our intention for these episodes is to spark conversations around topics that are usually brushed under the rug or only minimally covered in the hopes of making football and all sports safer for the athletes who play them.

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 10!

Week 10 Injuries:

Martellus Bennett (TE, Green Bay & now New England) went from getting cut by Packers to active for Patriots in 4 days

Looks like he is feeling pretty good to me (See video below)
After disagreeing on the severity of his shoulder injury, the Packers released Bennett with a “failure to disclose an injury” designation after Week 9.

The #Packers paid TE Martellus Bennett $8M of his 3-year, $21M contract. The only tangible benefit to cutting him with the failure to disclose is if they argue his entire contract is void & go after his money. This isn’t over just yet.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2017

Daniel Lasko, New Orleans, RB taken off the field in stretcher on kickoff coverage

Sparks discussion on kickoffs, touchbacks, the Patriots and what happens when you try to be like the patriots (see below)

103 YARDS TO THE HOUSE!@DionLewisRB is GONE. #GoPats #NEvsDEN pic.twitter.com/fnVmoZVx1u
— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2017

Devonta Freeman, RB Atlanta, 2nd Concussion in 4 Months

No Video, Thomas Davis Quote on Twitter…

If Devonta Freeman misses MNF, it will end the 2nd longest active starting streak for RBs at 30.

Frank Gore has the longest at *102*
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) November 13, 2017

Joe Haden, CB Pittsburgh, Fractured Fibula, Out 3-8 weeks

Slo-mo and zoom of Haden injury #Steelers pic.twitter.com/LAQAUJ7OWU
— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) November 13, 2017

Aaron Jones, Ty Mongomery, RB's Green Bay

Jones MCL 3-6 Weeks
Montgomery Ribs Week to Week

Richard Sherman, CB Seattle, Ruptured Achilles, Out for the year

Richard Sherman broke down in tears before leaving on crutches tonight: "I owe it to those guys, and I gave ’em everything I had." #Q13FOX https://t.co/oBzK1imNh5 pic.twitter.com/DcDPVCfj09
— Dusty Lane (@Dustin_L_Lane) November 10, 2017

Players speak out on their dislike for Thursday Night games
Richard Sherman wrote a Players Tribune Article about his hate for Thursday night games last year
Richard Sherman played through Achilles pain for weeks before season-ending injury
Stats provided by Football Outsiders says the data does not show a correlation between TNF and higher rates of injury.
Big Ben's thoughts on TNF

On Dec. 14, 2016, Richard Sherman wrote a piece for The Players' Tribune entitled "Why I hate Thursday Night... https://t.co/dz0rMHAeUi
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2017

Good Morning America's take on Thursday Night Games with Tony Reali (below)
- The players benefit financially from TNF

Russell Wilson, QB Seattle, Concussion protocol issue

Team could be fined $150,000 for violating the league concussion protocol
Is the team really at fault for a situation like this?
Did the blue tent blow this out of proportion?
The idea of a helmet penalty box is brought up as a potential solution

Russell Wilson sent off after taking hit to the chin for concussion check, ducked in the tent then sent right back out pic.twitter.com/8HXvKOGNuG
— That Dude (@cjzer0) November 10, 2017

Jacoby Brissett, QB Indianapolis, More concussion protocol issues

Brings up a discussion on "Concussion Body Language"

#NFL #concussion protocol is a fraud. QB Jacoby Brissett goes back in after showing the clearest concussions signs of the season. Helmet-to-helmet hit, holds head, then goes limp, then needs help up. You don't need a protocol to hold this player out for the game. Check the tape: pic.twitter.com/db8sDwVmVl
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) November 12, 2017

Delayed onset of concussion symptoms are a real thing (Kevin shares his personal experience)

Official statement from the Colts explains why Brissett went to the medical tent twice. The independent neurologist was attending to another player (in the locker room), so Brissett was tested when he returned. pic.twitter.com/Rml2Q1Tpsj
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 12, 2017

Non-Injury News, FInes & Updates from week 9:

Vontaze Burfict, Ejected for Making contact with official

Flagged for late hit out of bounds on Titans RB earlier in the game

#Bengals Vontaze Burfict has already been suspended this season, now has been ejected vs #Titans, late hit out of bounds here pic.twitter.com/t4wQ7iQBnH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 12, 2017

This contact with the ref is what ultimately got him ejected from the game

Video of Vontaze Burfict and why he was ejected. #Bengals @fox19 pic.twitter.com/7Po25VAlX7
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) November 12, 2017

He obviously shows no remorse and embraces the persona, but how is this affecting his team?

Burfict reacts to fans as he's leaving post-ejection pic.twitter.com/WYBYWlnE2g
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 12, 2017

Teddy Bridgewater, QB Minnesota, Returns from ACL/Major Knee Surgery

Teddy Bridgewater emotional after officially returning to his first game since Jan 10, 2016 (2015 season wildcard loss to SEA), serving as backup to Case Keenum: “it was great to lace my cleats up”..... pic.twitter.com/NQjbsyi296
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) November 13, 2017

Heads 'N Tales worthy for sure! We will definitely be rooting for this guy!

Marquise Goodwin, WR, 49ers, Feel-goodish story

Marquise Goodwin and his wife lost their baby due to complications during pregnancy.

Hours later, he had an emotional touchdown celebration that was bigger than sports. pic.twitter.com/EJyw9idfOP
— SB Nation (@SBNation) November 13, 2017

#49ers WR Marquise Goodwin and his wife lost their unborn baby due to complications yesterday morning.

What does he do? Score an emotional touchdown. Goosebumps.

pic.twitter.com/wEMckVx6Fm
— The Football Bible™ (@TheFBBible) November 13, 2017

Fines from Week 9 Fights

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

102 : What's Your Game Plan For Life After Sports? w/ Vin McCaffrey, CEO of Game Plan

Kevin Saum — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 02:48:34 +0000

Vin McCaffrey is a former college basketball player at Lehigh University and is now the Founder & CEO of Game Plan. Game Plan is a student-athlete development platform that unifies the student-athlete experience and aligns athletic departments, athletes, and employers for the good of all.

As a member of the men’s basketball team at Lehigh University Vin saw first-hand the challenges student-athletes face. Early on in the interview we talk about the giant GPA holes we dug for ourselves in our first semester of freshman year. Vin eventually went on to earn a Bachelor’s in International Relations in 1998 and started his professional career with Lexmark International. Following Lexmark, Vin worked in the financial and technology industries leading various business development initiatives. His passion for the student-athlete experience never left him and after he completed his Master’s in Business Administration in 2008 from Indiana University, he started Game Plan. In this episode Vin and I talk all things related about an athletes journey to a life after sports. We hope to prevent athletes from going through some of the things we struggled with throughout our athletic careers and after retirement from sport.

Below are some of the topics we touch on in our conversation:

Managing the new found freedom experienced when freshman get on campus.
The benefits of the structured sports schedule.
How to identify key interests, choosing majors and career paths, through the use of interest inventories.
College majors and schedule conflicts for athletes.
Vin talks about the sting of getting cut his senior season at Lehigh after a coaching transition.
Transitioning to a life after sports after an abrupt end to a career.
Translating athletic experiences into real world skills.
How the process of becoming a college athlete is entrepreneurial.
Underemployment in the workforce today.
Why playing sports doesn't have to be a liability for getting a job/transition into the work force.
How student-athletes are out-performing the general student body today.
Game Plan's approach to addressing the athlete identity.
The importance of not understating the uniqueness of each athlete's journey.
Why division-3 athletes might be more prepared for life after sports than division-1 athletes.
Advice for high school athletes who aren’t able to play in college.
Athlete-friendly companies and things to look for when searching for jobs.
Who is most at risk to struggle in their transition to life after sports.
What questions to ask yourself before accepting a job offer.
Common mistakes that make athletes unattractive to employers.
Why coaches need to be on board with preparing athletes for their transition to life after sports.

Vin still has it!

Where can yoU Learn More about game Plan?

Website | Twitter | Facebook

WHERE CAN YOU FIND VIN?

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 102 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 9 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Luck & Winston Shoulders, Watson ACL, 3 Fights

Kevin Saum — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 01:52:29 +0000

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 9!

This week our buddy Evan Guarini joins the show. Evan is a life long Giants fan and a former captain of the Marist College Men's lacrosse team. Evan tore is ACL before the start of his sophomore season and he gives us some insight into what lies ahead for Deshaun Watson.

Week 9 Injuries:

Andrew Luck, QB Indianapolis, Shoulder, Placed on IR this week, out for the year

Original Shoulder injury happened in 2015?

Luck believes he suffered labrum injury in week 3, 2015 vs. Titans. He wouldn't be first QB to "tough" way through it but not always wise.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) November 5, 2017

Potentially career ending or career altering?

Deshaun Watson, QB Houston, Torn ACL (In Practice? Tweaked in game last week?), Out for the year.

Not hard to imagine this play causing damage to Deshaun Watson's knee, as @AdamSchefter reported this morning. pic.twitter.com/tMJDhpq6Nt
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 5, 2017

Discussion with Evan on rehab of ACL and injury itself
- Evan tore his ACL while playing lacrosse for Marist College
With so many ACL injuries in the NFL, fans automatically conditioned to expect players to be back without any issues after surgery.
Are fans more worried about fantasy implications of injury than struggle of the players to actually come back from these injuries?
What’s the worst part of ACL rehab/recovery?
Why not everyone can recover like Adrian Peterson

Jameis Winston, QB Tampa Bay, Shoulder (Again)

Same injury as week 6 Injury
- Defender wraps his arms so he cannot brace his fall. Looks like his right shoulder takes the brunt of the hit when he impacts the ground.
- AC Joint

Dez Bryant, WR Dallas, Ankle

No video not considered serious

Three Separate Fights in Week 9:

49ers/Cardinals stemming from late hit on sliding QB

3rd big fight of the day, happened during #Cardinals-#49ers game pic.twitter.com/WoAgNQgcgW
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 6, 2017

Bengals/Jaguars AJ Green/Jalen Ramsey Ejected

Jalen: “Let me show you how to pick a fight.”

AJ Green: “Let me show you how you picked the wrong fight.” pic.twitter.com/4KrLAgKBLQ
— Oliver Maroney (@OMaroneyNBA) November 5, 2017

Bucs/Saints Somehow no ejections

Is it a daytime full moon another fight. Mike Evans with the cheap shot. Should for ejected. Damn Winston @Alex_Kozora @Steelersdepot pic.twitter.com/A8Y6jeGcsK
— T R (@TimotRice) November 5, 2017

Do fights look bad for the league or do they come with the territory?
Would fighting in football make it safer?
- Riley Cote enforcer reference

Updates from week 8:

Kiko Alonzo/Fletcher Cox, neither suspended for hits in Week 8

Alonzo fined 9k, Cox no fine

Quandre Diggs, CB Detroit, Fined 24k for hit on Jesse James

Thomas Davis fined 48k for hit on TB WR Humphries

As a 13yr vet that honestly tries to play the game of football the way it’s supposed to be played! I can’t imagine that this freakin’ tackle would cost me $48,620! Not a single part of this play was dirty! I love playing this game but if this was illegal then it’s time for me to retire! #AppealOnDeck

A post shared by td58 (@td58) on Nov 2, 2017 at 5:20pm PDT

What do you think? (See below)

This was not a $48,620 hit by Thomas Davis. Flag worthy? Debatable but probably. Fine worthy? Nope. pic.twitter.com/iaS7Hht00D
— Zach Helms (@KeepPounding95) November 4, 2017

NFL Fine structure and Implementation Discussion:

Click HERE to access the NFL's chart on fines discussed in this episode.

Extended Conversation/Questions for Evan:

How has your NFL fandom/viewing feeling changed (if at all) this season
Latest Buzz Topic- NFL TV Oversaturation, Group Discussion

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

101 : Everything You Need To Know Before, During & After ACL Reconstruction w/ Jenna Minecci, Author of "Surviving 7"

Kevin Saum — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 00:43:27 +0000

Jenna Minecci is the founder of Jennactive, an ACL prevention company/support network, and the author of the book "Surviving 7, The Experts Guide to ACL Surgery, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Prevention." I came across Jenna's story on Instagram and it didn't take me long to figure out that I needed to have her on the podcast. Jenna suffered her first ACL tear while playing soccer when she was just 13 years old. Both Jenna and her family lacked knowledge in the area of ACL rehab at the time and she ended up making some decisions that in hindsight, turned out to be mistakes. Some of these mistakes include the type of graft used and an insufficient amount of physical therapy post-surgery due to exceeding the number of paid visits from her family's health insurance provider.

Jenna would chant “Patience and Persistence” to keep her spirits high when she was feeling down.

Close to two years after tearing her right ACL, Jenna tore her left ACL while goofing around with some friends. This time she tore her ACL, MCL and meniscus. This injury was much more painful than the first, but her surgery and rehab process was more of the same. Both of her surgeries ended up failing and her revision surgeries were also unsuccessful. To date 1/3 of Jenna's life has been spent recovering from surgeries stemming from her two ACL injuries and she is undoubtedly an expert on everything that has to do with this type of recovery. Jenna has since dedicated her life to preventing other athletes from suffering what she has gone through. Her knowledge on all things related to the knee and keeping it healthy is incredible and all this information can be found in her new book. I picture Surviving 7 being in every athletic training room in the country to serve as a guide for athletes who unfortunately experience a knee injury. Below are a few topics we touch on during our conversation:

Jenna's experience with all surgeries to date, both repairs and revisions.
Advice for choosing the right surgeon.
Interview questions for prospective surgeons.
The pro's and cons of the different graft options.
What defines a failed surgery.
The loneliness experienced during recovery.
The stigma of the brace.
How Jenna has improved her productivity through journaling positive affirmations.
Mastery skills Jenna has developed through all of her surgery recoveries.
The roles that hormones play in ACL injuries and how to combat some of these changes.
Goal setting strategies.

"Don’t fight the process"

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Jenna?

Website | INstagram | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | Youtube

Where can you get your own copy of Surviving 7?

Surviving 7: The Expert's Guide to ACL Surgery: Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Prevention By Jenna Minecci

Download Episode 101 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 8 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Kiko Alonso Hit on Joe Flacco

Kevin Saum — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 01:29:17 +0000

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 8!

Week 8 Injuries:

Jordan Reed, TE Washington, Hamstring, Guy who is ALWAYS hurt

Zach Miller, TE Chicago, Leg/Knee, Viewer Discretion Advised

Can't fault Zach Miller for not holding on to that TD. Knees are not supposed to bend that way. This looks awfulpic.twitter.com/WwtmgSPY97
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) October 29, 2017

Chris Hogan, WR New England, Shoulder/Ribs/Collarbone? MRI Today

Chris Hogan's injury #Patriots #WBZ pic.twitter.com/cRRaFr9AB7
— Joe Giza (@JoeGiza) October 29, 2017

Joe Flacco, QB Baltimore, Concussion

Kiko Alonso hit on Joe Flacco has him out of the game and in concussion protocol #TNF #FinsUp #RavensFlock #MIAvsBAL pic.twitter.com/AoJmLhIMLS
— Next Man Up (@spottingboard) October 27, 2017

What do we think about this one folks?

A. clean
B. dirty
C. speed of the game
D. Other (comment your take)
- Instagram Comments:
  - Strengthworkscf: Hard to make a decision... if Miami doesn't commit to the tackle early flacco doesn't commit to the slide. Happens so fast.
  - Evang14: I am taking C on this one. Watching it live it looked like Flacco was running full speed and made a last second choice to slide. Flacco needs to give himself up earlier to protect himself. Sliding late and the rule in general puts defenders in a tough position in my opinion. When I watch the replay Flacco appears to look towards the sideline then sees Alonso coming and tries to go down. Alonso could have tried to hold up or jump but it is moving so fast not to mention it was right at the first down marker so he is trying to stop him from moving the chains.
  - Davidbracetty: D. Concussed the shit outta him. Ps- I owe you a phone call!!
  - simpsonatc22Man this is a tough one. The defender had already committed to the hit when Flacco was going down. I’m going to say C on this. My other question/concern is that his helmet has to be buckled tighter. I realize he took a head shot but he has got to tighten that up.
  - pabloelcomodinD - Dirty. First he committed to the slide before Alonso even started his tackling process. Second he went LOW. Which if Flacco stayed upright would have been right at his knees. Another violent, unnecessary hit. He could have went over top of him if he was truly trying to tackle correctly.
  - bmartinsports:DIRTY. NAPOLEON COMPLEX
  - Pearcecourt: Brutal.
  - Chris.ord15: Dirty, even if he had already commited he should have his arms out trying to tackle flacco with good form but he was diving at him shoulder first with the intent of laying down a massive hit on the qb so even without flacco sliding he was looming to put him with excessive force it was just made worse that the slide led to head contact
  - simpsonatc22 @headsntales I don’t think his helmet coming off made this any worse. It’s just something I hate to see and am constantly preaching this to my kids
  - morrissussexsportsIt's amazing that Ronnie Lott would lay three hits like this a game and it would even get a replay. I think this hit was dirty based on the current rules. But I think it does say a lot about how far we've come in Football safety that we are even talking about it.
  - Z_peach: C. Not a fan of Kiko whatsoever. But that was a late slide and a clear attempt at the first down. Penalty yes, dirty or malicious I don't think so. But if you want to talk about dirty or malicious, what are your thought about the post play pay back. Yes, I get defending your qb and teammate, but after the late hit on Kiko, once on the ground the raven lineman continues to jump on Kiko and hit this helmet off until suh removes him. Ripping a helmet of a player on the ground post play in retaliation isn't dirty?
  - bbubz5 @headsntales to that point though, leading with the shoulder is a legal hit, no? Only when leading with the helmet and leaving the ground would result in a targeting penalty. I would have to go with C, speed of the game with an unfortunate injury. I played quarterback myself, went up against @headsntales back in the day, and should know something like that has to be coming in open field like that.
  - pearcecourt @headsntales totally. Man they pissed off the Ravens. I would have said speed of the game because you can’t stop on a dime but he could have jumped over or rolled over. He hit so much harder than necessary.
  - Charliespaniard: Dirty.
  - Class_strength: Definitely C, but have to love Ryan Jensen sticking up for his qb after the play
  - michaelobrienshiftToday it is B - Dirty because he hasn’t rebooted his brain still believes it is A because of years of training.
  - nannang3Well, that second hit was purposeful.
Facebook Comments:
- Russell I want to say B. I cant stand the Ravens. I think the Dolphins dude was going for a low tackle to wipe the legs from Flacco, unfortunately Flacco slid and he ploughed into him. Ugly ugly situation and as much as it pains me I don't think its B
- Derek I thought B until I saw this wide angle. At full speed the athletes are closing on each other head on at full speed and Flacco drops when they are only 5 yards apart or so. Borderline Call which is a function of the Speed of the Game. https://youtu.be/uoNcfGgebmk
- Kathy I'm torn about this one. I first said B but after watching it several times and especially the slow motion, I think maybe C. Flacco started to slide at the same time Alonso is coming in for the tackle and is at full speed. Unfortunate that Flacco was at that vulnerable point.
- Omar Would it be viewed differently if this was a running back and not a QB? Some quarterbacks seem like they can’t be touched anymore. It’s too hard to tell if it’s dirty or speed of the game but I bet kiko will get some fine and maybe suspension just cause it was on the QB
- John Should have went for the sidelines as well.
- Joelyn Dirty..he put his head down

Media Reaction:

Colin Cowherd, Fox:

Baseball slide comparison, get down or wear a baseball in the mouth

NFL Network:

Week 7 Updates:

Luke Kuechly, LB Carolina, Active and played full game this week at TB

After returning from concussion protocol, Luke Kuechly still won’t say whether he had a concussion or not https://t.co/EooioLlHH6
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 29, 2017

Makes it seem like the Panthers are purposely keeping specific diagnosis cloudy

Andrew Sendejo, S Minnesota, Suspended 1 Game (This past weekend’s game) for being a repeat violator after his hit on Mike Wallace of Baltimore discussed in last week's episode.

Vontaze Burfict, Fined 12k not suspended for kick on Pittsburgh player last week

Robert McClain, Safety Tampa Bay, Fined 24k for Helmet to Helmet hit on Buffalo WR Deonte Thompson

(Hit at 43 second mark of video)

McClain suffered concussion on the play, Missed This week’s game vs TB

CJ Fedorowicz, TE Houston, Concussion, Played Week 1 then put on IR, UPDATE

Week 8 Illegal Hits:

Quandre Diggs, CB Detroit hit on Jesse James, TE Pittsburgh

#steelers #lions #jessejames pic.twitter.com/OGsIGyKUsN
— PsithLord (@scottpsithurism) October 30, 2017

Fletcher Cox DT PHI, Hit/Block on SF OL Joe Staley, Staley Suffered Broken Orbital Bone on Play, Cox reportedly facing suspension. Video of play not great, better video should come out with more coverage.

Here's the play in question where Staley was injured. Watch the bottom left of the screen. Staley goes flying and Cox throws his arms up. pic.twitter.com/k4cJMn76dq
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) October 30, 2017

Extended conversation:

Le’Veon Bell Not Worried About Heavy Workload

“I don’t think I run like other running backs…I don’t run into guys. I’m patient, I pick my spots. I get to the ground. I don’t think I take a lot of hits.”
He wouldn’t be the first Steelers’ running back to know when to avoid the big hit. Franco Harris famously had a reputation for ducking out of bounds instead of embracing a big collision, allowing him to enjoy a 13 year career and, for example, lead the team in rushing at age 31.
“If it’s 3rd and 3 or something, of course, you gotta go get it. But every carry is not like that for me. I had 35 last week, I probably had 4 or 5 last game where I’m head on head and just go at it. That’s low. A lot of games get 25 carries and 22 carries are like that. I just think I run a little different.”

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

100 : A Look Back At One Hundred Episodes

Kevin Saum — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 03:18:55 +0000

On September 5th, 2015, the Heads ‘N Tales Podcast was born. There have been a lot of ups and downs along the way and I couldn’t have gotten to the 100th episode alone. I first want to thank my girlfriend Lauren for pushing and encouraging me to keep going at times when I wanted to quit and for never getting frustrated with me for spending every Sunday for the last two years editing audio and writing blog posts. Next I want to thank my family and friends for all of their support along the way and making the podcast what it is today. I also need to thank my guests, because without you, there wouldn’t be a podcast. Lastly, I want to thank my loyal listeners out there. Your notes, letters of appreciation and encouragement make all the early mornings and late nights worth while.

In the 100th episode you will hear not only the evolution of the podcast from a production and content perspective, but also my own personal transformation and the key things I have learned along this journey. I hope you can apply some of these same principles to your life. Specifically, you will hear excerpts from the following interviews:

Lou Vanorski, my youth football coach and a current high school football coach from Episode 2. Although this interview was not the first one posted, it was the first one I ever recorded. It was funny to listen back to hear all the background noise and the lack of confidence in my voice. In the excerpts I pulled from our interview, we debate the definitions of hurt vs. injured and the importance of knowing you are not alone throughout the injury recovery process. My hope is that one day, every athlete can come to the Heads 'N Tales podcast to know they are not alone and more importantly find a roadmap to overcome their obstacle.
Bill Anthes, a Green Beret from episode 54. I recorded this episode after participation in one of Bill's Between the Ears Evolutions. It was in this definition that I learned the true definition of toughness. Since this experience, I no longer find my self worth from physicality and extrinsic motivators. I believe that if everyone adopted the definition of toughness described in this episode the world would be a much happier and healthier place.
David Vobora, retired NFL Linebacker and Founder of the Adaptive Training Foundation from episode 53. This has been one of my favorite episodes to date and the wisdom spewing out this interview is ridiculous. Some talking points I pulled for the 100th episode include David's transition to life after football and the idea of "Pain for a Purpose." The latter point is one that has proved to be healing to me in my search for a new identity after football.
Eric LeGrand, and former Rutgers football player from episode 47. I was on the field when Eric suffered his devastating spinal cord injury and I remember the huge void his absence left on the team. His outlook on life after his injury and gratitude is exemplary.
Suzanne Barba, the athletic trainer who saved my life from episode 1. This podcast wouldn't be possible if it weren't for Suzanne. The 100th episode starts off by looking back at the first episode to highlight my intentions for the show and compare them to what Head's 'N Tales actually looks like more than 2 years later.

Download Episode 100 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 7 Fantasy Football Injury Report w/ Special Guest, James Kratch : Carson Palmer, Joe Thomas, Mike Wallace, Jay Cutler, Malik Hooker

Kevin Saum — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 23:39:11 +0000

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 7 with special guest, James Kratch, New York Giants Beat Writer for The Star Ledger/NJ.com. James played football with me in high school and we have been friends since second grade. He also player baseball with both Josh and I in high school. Before coming a New York Giants beat writer, James was the sports editor of The Daily Gamecock at The University of South Carolina.

Follow @JamesKratch

Week 7 Injuries:

Carson Palmer, QB Arizona, Broken Arm, Out at least 8 weeks

Joe Thomas, OT Cleveland, Arm Injury, Snapped longest consecutive snaps played streak in NFL History. (Article, No Video) UPDATE: Torn Triceps, Out for Season

Mike Wallace, WR Baltimore, Concussion/Protocol

Mike Wallace ... yikes. This is a made-me-wince hit pic.twitter.com/bWeZPN1M7m
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) October 22, 2017

Legal hit in NFL due to the WR being a “runner” at this point in the play, but should the rule be changed to similar to college targeting rule?

Jay Cutler, QB Miami, Chest/Rib Injury, Cracked Ribs 2-3 Weeks

Malik Hooker, S Indianapolis , Torn ACL, Rookie from Ohio State

Malik Hooker did walk off the field under his own power after this hit for the #Colts ... but that knee injury looked serious 😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/uiYhdxvYgI
— Andy McDonnell (@Andy_McDonnell) October 22, 2017

Dirty block?

Updates and Fines from Week 6:

Luke Kuechly, LB Carolina, Inactive for this weeks game vs CHI, Injury Report listed Kuechly as sitting out of Practice Wednesday due to the Protocol but Thursday and Friday due to a Concussion. Seems as if, contrary to Adam Schefter's Report last week the Panthers have diagnosed Kuechly with a Concussion. Last note on this for reference, at the end of last season Kuechly missed the last 6 games of the season with a concussion however he was cleared from the protocol and eligible to play after 3 weeks. The Panthers have historically been very cautious with Kuechly and Concussions.

Mike Mitchell, S Pit, Fined 9k (Normal Roughing the Passer Fine) for hit on Alex Smith. However Mitchell was also fined 45k for a different hit in the KC game, amount of the fine due to being a repeat offender. There was no penalty on the play for that hit.

But what about this Charcandrick West hit that Mike Mitchell went all in on? pic.twitter.com/gGE4hacQmh
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) October 19, 2017

Laquan Treadwell, WR Minnesota, Fined 24k for block we discussion in last week's episode.

Vontaze Burfict, LB Cincinatti, Kick vs Pittsburgh, Suspended again? C'mon Man!

Two plays in and Vontaze Burfict kicks Rosie Nix after a play. Then points at Nix for some reason. #Steelers #Bengals pic.twitter.com/lioNLDDMvX
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) October 22, 2017

View from inside an NFL Locker Room with James Kratch:

General Player Safety including Thursday Night Games, Practice times and recovery, concussions, concussion protocol and defenseless receiver plays.
Quality of play including CBA effects on contracts, younger players on average across the league and offensive line play.
Teaching of Extra Effort/Playing through the whistle, does it need to change? Is it “just football”? Can in be tough and coached out of the game at younger levels?
Fan vs Reporter: How has your personal fandom for the Giants as well as NFL changed as a whole changed since you’ve starting covering the team for a living?

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

99 : When Post-Concussion Syndrome is On a Breakaway w/ Former Harvard Hockey Goalie, Molly Tissenbaum

Kevin Saum — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 20:15:33 +0000

Molly Tissenbaum is a former Harvard Hockey Goalie and currently serves as a Research Analyst at the Sports Innovation Lab in Boston, MA. I came across Molly's story of overcoming post-concussion syndrome on the Concussion Legacy Foundation's "My Legacy" page. Molly's first concussion happened when she was just 13 years old after taking a puck to the facemask while training with some older boys. Molly went to school at Premier Elite Athletics Collegiate (PEAC) which is a school for elite athletes. There were very few female hockey players at this school so she frequently got to play with the boys. Which proved to be a double-edged sword in this situation. After asking if the puck went in the net, she immediately knew something was wrong and took herself out. Molly stayed home from school for about a week, and when her symptoms cleared, she went back to school, and within 2 weeks she was back on the ice without symptoms (the way it should work!).

At the time of the first concussion Molly was wearing a junior level mask instead of the superior senior-level mask. During our conversation we talked about the difference between junior and senior-level masks. Molly also believes that her mask wasn’t fitted properly, which is especially important for females with pony tails. Molly recommends getting your mask fitted by someone reputable and don’t worry about what your hair looks like. She found that the best fit comes when you leave an inch between where you tie your hair and the back plate of the mask. Here is a link to a blog post on proper goalie mask fit.

The second time Molly suffered a concussion was two years later in a playoff game when she was 15. In the second period of a 0-0 tie, she got hit in the head with a stick across the left side of her head. She was in a butterfly (on her knees to cover the bottom of the net), when a puck was flipped in the air towards her. The girl on the opposing team took a swing to try and bat it out of the air and missed, but made clear contact with the side of her head. Having suffered a concussion at 13, she knew immediately that something was off. She remembers looking up to see who hit her and struggled to determine if the number was 13 or 31. The numbers looked like they were dancing.

But it was only the second period, and her team had to win this game in order to advance to the provincial championship tournament. So she finished that game and her team ended up winning. Molly remained silent because she only had 2 weeks until the tournament. She was a leader and the starting goalie. She felt that her team needed her, so she tried to tough it out for the sake of the team. "At no point did it occur to my 15-year-old self that I might be hurting myself, or even the team, by playing through a concussion."

Molly struggled with post-concussion symptoms for nearly six months. Her academics were severely impacted throughout this time, and teachers began to notice that something was off because the quality of her work declined. She eventually recovered enough to be named valedictorian of her graduating class and get into the most prestigious university in the United States. She credits her teachers support and patience throughout the difficult times she encountered following her second concussion.

Concussion #3 was actually not sports-related. Her family got into a car accident on move-in weekend of Molly's sophomore year at Harvard. Mollys first thought after impact was "thats the end of my career." This accident triggered post-concussion symptoms that forced Molly to take a medical leave of absence for a year. Molly and I dive in to her struggles with symptoms and isolation during this time.

Below are some more talking points during our conversation:

How Molly fell in love with the goalie position after giving up 18 points in her first game.
Common mechanisms for goalie concussions
The Ice Guardians Documentary
Rules in place to protect goalies
The importance of academic support during PCS recovery
Healing with time and rest
The role of a muscle activation therapist
Dealign with FOMO during PCS recovery
Focusing on what you can do rather than what you can't
The lack of a blueprint for concussion recovery
Finding a new normal
Why you need to be honest with yourself and prioritize your mental health to stay healthy
Molly's transition to life after hockey, and why thinking about your future is not selfish
Molly's work with The Butterfly Cares organization

Where can you find Molly?

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 99 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 6 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Aaron Rodgers' Broken Collarbone

Kevin Saum — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 00:43:56 +0000

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 6!

Week 6 Injuries:

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay, Broken Collarbone, Out for the year

Aaron Rodgers hit and knocked out on this play pic.twitter.com/PDr0kxgIW6
— Vikings Blogger (@firstandskol) October 15, 2017

Heads 'N Tales Facebook Comments:

A. Clean

B. Dirty

C. Clean, but unnecessary.

D. That's the risk of running outside the pocket.

E. The speed of the game is too fast for the defender to avoid contact.

F. Other (Comment Below)

David C - hit was in good form within the proper amount of steps by Rodgers but he didn’t need to wrap up and follow through to the ground. The ramifications of ego in a rivalry game.

Marco D-it's more of an unfortunate event of how he landed and most likely shouldn't have tryed to use his arm to support a landing a st 250+ linebacker tackling him at full speed into the ground.

Most likely an unnecessary tackle but it was clean.

Nathan C,E. It was too late for him to pull away so he fully followed through.

Honestly if it hadn't injured Aaron it would have been a run of the mill hit for a QB. Key areas avoided (head, knees). It's just unfortunate the weight of two men came down on one arm.

John Clean. It's almost like everyone is searching for ways to make every hit dirty instead of the other way around.

Kevin Saum I agree, definitely a clean hit, unfortunate result.

John Yea. It's sad. Athletes need to learn how to take a hit as well as give one. First 2 things you learn in jiu-jitsu, how to fall properly, and to tap.

Allan I’m trying to look at this as unbiased as I can. I believe E. Think about how fast these guys are moving. The hit is legal. Rogers is outside the pocket and Barr is running full speed. No way he can avoid making contact in my opinion.

Matt C - it was pretty textbook as far as tackles go, but the ball was out early enough he potentially could have just pushed him rather than wrapping him up.

Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay, Shoulder, Week to Week

Here's the play where Jameis Winston hurt his right throwing shoulder in the 1st Qtr. Ouch.@gregauman #Bucs #TBvsAZ pic.twitter.com/h51AHvcBCq
— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) October 15, 2017

Twitter Ads info and privacy

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver, Ankle, MRI Today

Do not look at Emmanuel Sanders ankle.... pic.twitter.com/x8MDk2X7Y5
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) October 16, 2017

Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville, Ankle, MRI Today, Day to Day?

From @gmfb: #Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette injured his ankle yesterday, but a source said he's "fine." They were cautious. pic.twitter.com/n66cJqNSyK
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 16, 2017

Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina, Concussion?

The play where Luke Kuechly was hurt pic.twitter.com/IYDCtTpGmg
— Cody Dalton (@CodyDaltonCVCC) October 13, 2017

No concussion but still in concussion protocol
Report says he’s been cleared to play this Sunday
Was wearing the q-collar we talked about during the game this past Thursday

Week 6 Illegal hits:

Mike Mitchell Hit on Alex Smith

That's about as dirty as it gets, Mike Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/piPXole7hS
— Dan Hanzus (@DanHanzus) October 15, 2017

LaQuan Treadwell (WR MIN) block against Green Bay

I wonder why the #NFL made this great block by #Vikings WR Treadwell 'illegal'?? pic.twitter.com/A1Y5SnYAFt
— Footballzone (@UReady4Football) October 16, 2017

WEEK 5 FOLLOW-UP:

David Amerson, CB, Oakland, Recent concussion history, Active and Played
Marcus Gilchrist, S, Houston, Fined 24K for hit on Travis Kelce we spoke about last week.

WEEK 6 IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS:

Can we protect the QB even more without ruining the game?
Concussions vs. Concussion Protocol and the how the league describes these two.

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

98 : What Can Football Learn From Motorsport? w/ Pro Race Car Driver, Henrique Cisneros

Kevin Saum — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Henrique Cisneros is a professional race car driver, Chairman, Director & President of the Motorsport Safety Foundation, Co-owner and Director of MOMO Italy, a global automotive safety accessories company and Director at Cisneros Corporation. In Episode 98, Henrique and I discussed health & safety in motorsport and how it's initiatives can translate to other sports like football.

The creation of the Motorsport Safety Foundation was inspired by the tragic loss of Henrique's co-driver, Sean Edwards while he was coaching racing students in Australia. According to Henrique, most races governed by the FIA require the track to meet a set of minimum safety standards. In Sean's accident, the driver, traveling at high speed, crashed into a wall that was supposed to have several rows of tires to dissipate the impact. This particular wall had an insufficient number of tire rows. Ultimately, Henrique felt his friend's death could have been prevented. Partly out of frustration for a lack of consistency for motorsport safety standards and as a way to his honor his friend, the Motorsport Safety Foundation was born. The mission of the Motorsport Safety Foundation is to improve safety in all forms of motorsport. Although the mission may sound simple, Henrique enlightened me on how this is no easy task.

Pictured : Henrique (left), Sean Edwards (Right)

Below are some topics of discussion in this episode:

Why it takes an accident to make changes that improve safety.
Impact causes the most damage in motorsport, so how do you dissipate the impact most effectively?
The inherent risk of speed in motorsport.
- One of the HighFives Foundation's 5 critical mistakes
Advances in motorsport safety equipment.
- Fire resistant clothing
- HANS Head restraint
- Car technology
- Barriers
The importance of educating drivers on safety because ignorance can be bliss.
- How even crashing at 40 miles an hour can kill you.
- Sharing best practices.
Why the biggest enemy to safety is cost.
- Safety is expensive, every new regulation means changes for teams, cars or tracks and they don't all necessarily make the car faster.
How Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s death pushed change and new technology in motorsport safety.
Motorsport Safety Foundation's Initiatives.
- ICE
  - Emergency ID Stickers
- Certified
  - In collaboration with leaders in the High Performance Driver Education community, the Motorsport Safety Foundation has created standards for the selection, training and certification of high performance driving instructors.
- Race With Restraint
  - Race with Restraint is a program dedicated to making Frontal Head Restraints (FHR) easily accessible to anyone who goes on a race track. The Motorsport Safety Foundation offers drivers at all levels the chance to rent a HANS Device or Simpson Hybrid for a low fee.
    - Rental kiosk for restraints
      - Takes the money excuse away from drivers
Zero One helmet by VICIS – Henrique applauds the company for thinking outside the box.
- What is the price on your life?
SG Helmets - Football helmets inspired by motorsport technology.
- Using Carbon Kevlar
- Weight is the enemy in collisions
How the evolution of motorsport and sports like football are similar.

"The safer the track and equipment, the better the racing"

Concussions in motorsport and the lack of return to drive protocols.
Spectator safety
- Why danger = Fun
How the younger generation of racers are seeing things differently when it comes to safety.
- Culture of masculinity is less prevalent.
- The younger generation isn't afraid to speak their truth.
Why making decisions on ego or masculinity never consider safety
- Ego over intuition
  - Another one of the HighFives Foundation's critical mistakes
Story of a personal crash Henrique was in and why the he was lucky the track safety parameters were up to par.
What can other sports learn from motorsports?
- The use of sensors.
- How sensors can lead to information people don’t want to know...
Why MOMO never skimps on safety.
Why consistency is key when is comes to building a culture of safety.
- Brief and debrief safety before and after each event.
Henrique's hobbies outside of motorsport, kite surfing, motorized paragliding. See his video below!

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT Cisneros Corp automotive group?

M OMO | A DV1 | Weld | driven motorsport | forgestar

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT Motorsport safety foundation?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW henrique?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 98 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report : JJ Watt's & Odell Beckham's Broken Legs

Kevin Saum — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 00:42:59 +0000

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 5!

WEEK 5 INJURIES:

JJ Watt, DE, Houston, Tibial Plateau Fracture - Out for the year
- 3 months non weight bearing after surgery...

Very little contact on JJ Watt's injury. pic.twitter.com/eXoKEe6zo7
— Sports Videos & GIFs (@Sports__GIF) October 9, 2017

I can't sugarcoat it, I am devastated.
All I want to do is be out there on that field for my teammates and this city.
I'm sorry.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 9, 2017

I'd rather risk it all by going balls to the wall than play it safe wondering if I coulda had it all.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 30, 2016

Odell Beckham, WR New York Football Giants, Broken Ankle - Out for year
- (@evang14 question) What if Odell Caught the ball… Would he have landed differently?

That's a season ender for Odell Beckham Jr. pic.twitter.com/hp6aO7JeMe
— SaquonSZN Ethan (@EthanGSN) October 8, 2017

Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City, Concussion - Left in 2nd Quarter, did not return to game
- Illegal hit
- Is this another example of players giving the extra effort coaches preach?

The hit on Travis Kelce... ouch pic.twitter.com/SJtFFsGwUv
— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) October 9, 2017

Chris Conley, WR Kansas City, Torn Achilles - Out for year, viewer discretion advised

Brutal injury for Chris Conley... peep his calf pic.twitter.com/RjgaIhMKqz
— Byrie Irving Stan ☘️ (@mattdole24) October 9, 2017

Every other Giants WR, Brandon Marshall Ankle, Sterling Shepard Ankle, Dwayne Harris Foot (Out for year)
Eli Manning, QB New York Football Giants, Xrays on Neck postgame
Ben Roethlisberger, QB Pittsburgh, Injuries to Ego and Confidence after 5 INT games vs. Jaguars

WEEK 4 FOLLOW-UP:

David Amerson, CB, Oakland, Concussion Follow-up, Limited all week in Practice, was questionable for game vs. Ravens, ended up being Inactive, did not dress from the game.
Davonte Adams, WR, Green Bay, Concussion, Active, Played full game, scored GW TD with 10 seconds left
- "To take a hit like that 10 days ago, to be in an ambulance, and then be back out here today -- that speaks volumes about mental toughness," receiver Randall Cobb said of Adams. "Not a lot of people would have been out there. Even a lot of football players wouldn't have been out there. It takes an incredible amount of mental toughness, but that's Davante. And Aaron? What can I say? He just does what needs to be done."
  - Randall Cobb
    - Highlighting how NFLers define toughness...
Vontaze Burfict, LB, Cincinatti, Not fined for roughing the passer vs. Cleveland
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Green Bay, Fined 24k for Helmet to Helmet hit of CHI WR Josh Bellamy
- Went under the radar because of the Burfict hit in that game.

Haha hit on Bellamy

Danny Trevathan Suspension reduced on appeal to just 1 game...
Jon Gruden on Trevathan Hit…
- “I don’t want to see anybody get hurt,” Gruden said. “It was a vicious hit, but not to be politically correct, you’re supposed to run to the ball. We used to tell our receivers, if you want to run an inside breaking route, if you want to fight for yardage after the catch, you better be careful because these defensive players, they’re on the hunt. I think some of these receivers that are running these quick screens and these inside breaking RPOs [run/pass options], they need to get down, personally. I’m not blaming Davante Adams but I think there’s two ways to look at it. I’ve always coached energy, hustling, rushing to the pile, and if it is wiggling, you do hit it. Because guys are fighting for yardage, and sometimes you’ve got to give up the ball because of one inch. Inches matter. That’s why they measure first downs. That’s why they have a crew down there with those chains. So I’m a little sensitive. I thought Trevathan made a great play. Obviously, what he’s hitting, the surface, below the neck, all those things, I’m totally agreeing on. But I thought Trevathan made a heck of a play and unfortunately a man got hurt.”

Week 5 In-depth discussions:

Cam Newton Discussion, Women in Football/Perspective
Extra Effort Hits: Not necessarily late but are they necessary? Watch for these plays next game you watch, especially during piles. Does the NFL need to change rules on late-ish hits?
- Need for quicker whistles and adoption of the college rule, knee down-play over?

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

97 : The Power of Saying "No" During PCS Recovery w/ Brittni Souder

Kevin Saum — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 20:05:28 +0000

A native of Frederick, Maryland and a former collegiate soccer player at Hood College, Brittni was forced to finally retire from her playing days in 2014 after what she estimates now to have been her 9th concussion. After spending the majority of her college career battling injuries, doctors, and her family to get back onto the field she now fights to raise awareness among “invincible” athletes and uneducated family members: two things she herself has been in the past.

Brittni and her family now realize she likely suffered three concussions before even reaching college when her struggles with them really began. After suffering from nagging ankle injuries her freshman and sophomore years she sustained 3 concussions during her junior season: approximately a two-month span. Although she continued to fight to play for the next two seasons she would never really be the same after that fall of 2012.

After two surgeries on her head and taking a semester off, she returned to school for her final semester and season in the fall of 2014. She suffered two minor hits that she played through, determined to finish out her final season. On October 25th, 2014 in the final seconds of a game her hopes came to a grinding halt. The buzzer sounded and her teammates surrounded her, lifting her off turf and then held her up as they celebrated their big win. She was helped off the field for the last time.

She managed to finish college from home with the help of her professors and officially graduated in May of 2015. Since then she has fought to manage her Post-concussion symptoms and live as normal of a life as possible. She coaches college soccer and hopes her story will serve as an example of what can happen.

The bio presented above was taken from our episode 18 guest, Jay Fraga's blog called the Knockout Project. For anyone reading this or listening to this episode, I encourage you to check out Jay's website where Brittni's story is showcased along with the stories of many other athletes who have dealt with and are dealing with post concussion syndrome (PCS). During my interview with Brittni, she talked about the importance of finding the PCS community during her recovery. I will save you the time searching because the community is right here ( the Knockout Project ). Jay has done as tremendous job creating this safe-place and resource for those suffering with PCS.

"Suffering with PCS makes you feel like you are the weakest person in the world."

Below are other topics of discussion from our interview:

The influence that growing up as a "farm kid" had on her views of sucking it up and powering through injuries.
How Brittni managed to stay concussion free for her first couple seasons of college soccer.
The sequence of events and subsequent recoveries from all debilitating concussions suffered throughout her career.
Internal dialog and the imagined perception of others in not wanting to be known as the "weak girl."
The various treatments Brittni tried to alleviate her symptoms, which included:
- Steroid injections.
- Surgery to remove scar tissue around occipital nerves.
The importance of getting a second opinion.
Developing hobbies outside of your sport.
Dealing with the isolation throughout recovery.
Trigeminal neuralgia, "The suicide disease."
How Brittni now approaches her coaching style to prevent athletes from playing through injuries like she did.
The importance of staying physically active during your recovery from PCS.

"I’ve really had to Commit to not committing to things."

The power of saying No in managing your PCS symptoms.
Navigating relationships while suffering from PCS.
Another PCS community specifically for female athletes call Pink Concussions.
The inspiration Brittni has gained from the work of Brené Brown, particularly her book called Rising Strong.

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT PINK CONCUSSIONS?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW BRITTNI?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 97 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 4 Fantasy Football Injury Report : The Travathan/Adams Hit

Kevin Saum — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 01:38:05 +0000

In the wake of the events that occurred in Las Vegas, our weekly podcast show is seemingly unimportant. These tragic and unthinkable events remind us just how fragile life can be. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected.

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 4!

Week 4 Injuries:

Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota, ACL

Dalvin Cook's injury did not look good at all pic.twitter.com/xCqYNW7PhB
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) October 1, 2017

Chris Carson, RB, Seattle, Ankle

Seahawks rookie RB Chris Carson, suffers lower left leg injury. Needs air cast and is carted off the field. pic.twitter.com/XO2SmCt2x1
— Football Dungeon (@DuaneLively) October 2, 2017

Julio Jones, WR Atlanta, Hip, Not Serious
Derek Carr, QB Oak, Back, Transverse process fracture, rare.
- Usually due to sudden extreme twisting or side bending movement.
- Out two to four weeks

Derek Carr suffers back injury. #Raiders pic.twitter.com/kqDhq9cCmY
— Peter Joe (@RaiderPosts) October 1, 2017

Marcus Mariota, QB Tennessee, Hamstring, Not Serious
David Amerson, CB Oakland, Concussion, 2nd this season, 3rd in 14 months
Davonte Adams, WR Green Bay, Head/Neck, Longer discussion below.

Week 3 Fines:

Jimmie Ward, S San Fransisco, 24k for Helmet-Helmet Hit we talked about last week on Robert Woods, WR Los Angeles Rams (Discussed last week).
Richard Sherman, No fine for hit on Marcus Mariota (Discussed last week).
Andrew Sendejo, S Min, 24k Helmet-Helmet hit.

Week 4 Illegal Hits:

Vontaze Burfict, LB Cincinnati, Roughing the Passer, 1st game back from preseason suspension.

Burfict flagged for roughing the passer on this: pic.twitter.com/xQgMVdnIdA
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) October 1, 2017

Long Discussion- Trevathan/Adams Hit Thursday:

Devante Adams knocked out on a brutal hit by Danny Trevathan #TNF #CHIvsGB #DaBears #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/oPOfBlsVbF
— Next Man Up (@spottingboard) September 29, 2017

Trevathan Suspended 2 games, fine equals around 250k (2 game checks)
Situation, GB 3rd and Goal from CHI 16, GB up 14, 5 minutes left in 3rd Quarter
WR Screen, fighting for extra yards, Trevathan helmet-helmet, launched
Late Flag?
Defenseless Receiver?
Possible Defenses of Trevathan
- Fast game?
- Head entered correct target area late?
- No intent to injure?

Instagram Comments:

Thoughts and prayers go out to Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Devante Adams. You know @jboyd_44 and I will be talking about this one on JK...But Seriously on Monday. #Repost @tbionelove ・・・ #fantasyfootball #FantasyFootballDraft #FantasyFootballScout #FantasyFootballAdvice #FantasyFootballNews #fantasyfootballproblems #fantasyfootballCHAMPION #injuries #sportsinjuries #SportInjuries #footballinjuries #kneeinjuries #braininjuries #NoMoreInjuries #injuriessuck #footinjuriessuck #heatinjuries #headinjuries #GreatOnSportInjuries #nflinjuries #leginjuriessuck #chronicinjuries #minorinjuries

A post shared by Heads 'N Tales (@headsntales) on Sep 29, 2017 at 3:58am PDT

That’s called playing football !
He’s all wrapped up. There was absolutely no reason for that dirty play. I thought that should’ve been an automatic ejection with a massive penalty
There is certainly inherent risk in playing football. But the defender launched himself, leading with his head, at a ball carrier who was already going to the ground; a hit that was penalized for unnecessary roughness. Players should have at least a decent level of respect for the safety for others on the field.
- Watch it full speed tho .. I don’t think he intentionally aimed at his head ... the game is a very fast game.. you can’t always control what you hit
- The slow mo always makes it look as if things like this are intentionally done.. it was a hard hit yes but I don’t think he was out to hurt the guy
  - Completely agree that his intentions were not to injure!
  - We will definitely bring that point up in our podcast conversation on Monday! Thanks for the comments bro. Love having these conversations.
He shouldn't be lowering his head and Adams knows that fighting for extra yards in the middle of the field is dangerous in the NFL. That LB was already committed to the hit before Adams was going down. Probably didn't intend to hit the head but definitely went in full speed as hard as he could.
My God! As an AT this is just one of many reasons I would never let my kid play football😳

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

96 : The Fifth Down w/ Former NFL Wide Receiver, Grant Mattos

Kevin Saum — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 21:14:27 +0000

Grant Mattos is a former NFL wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans. After struggling to find a new identity after his football career, he eventually competed on the television show, Survivor and found solace through practicing yoga. I came across Grant's Instagram account through Eben Britton, who was our guest in episode 75. It didn't take me long to notice that Grant had written a book called "The Fifth Down." Grant's memoir takes readers through his NFL journey, which was filled with adrenaline-charged highs and anxiously-depressive lows. Like many of the listeners of this show, Grant consistently sacrificed the health of his brain and body to acquire these highs. The book also sheds light on Grant's life after he was let go from the NFL where he had an excruciating journey to rebuild a new identity. He ultimately found yoga, and learned what it meant to actually love himself. This book is his account of what motivates someone to continue grasping for extreme experiences. And, conversely, finding the path to reclaiming a balanced life.

One of the first questions I asked Grant was, who is this book for? (even though I had a hunch it was perfect for you listeners). The Fifth Down is for anyone who has reached for certainty and stability through career, only to come up empty handed after decades of hard work. It's for those who have felt the sting of alcoholism, drug abuse, and broken homes. It's for those who have, or wish still, to pick themselves up while at their lowest.

“Football equaled time with my Dad”

Grant started writing the book about 5 years ago. Writing proved to be very therapeutic for him because it forced him to face all the things he wasn’t willing to face during his career and immediately after it ended. It gave him a better understanding of why he went through everything he did throughout his football career and beyond. Grant eventually realized that his NFL dreams went much deeper than just wanting to be one of the guys he saw on TV every Sunday in the fall. The more he wrote, the more clear his WHY became. During our conversation, Grant explained the revelation of realizing that football was never really his dream that he was going after, it was his father's dream. Ironically, the higher up in football ranks he got, the more he pushed his father away,

"I was a leaf blowing in the wind"

I am...

Like many athletes, there was no goal for Grant after the NFL. Many athletes who have come on the show often credit their one-track mindset for their success. After taking us through the final moments of his NFL career, Grant described himself as "a leaf blowing in the wind" when trying to figure out his next move after football. The wind eventually blew Grant to Las Vegas where he worked at a gentleman's club where he was once a patron. Grant and I dive into this difficult time in his life where he describes his thoughts as being an "internal civil war." If you are reading this blog post, you most likely know this exact feeling, I know I do. The learning lesson to take from this part of our conversation is that even at your lowest point, there is always a way out. That way out for Grant was a very good friend who pulled him out of Vegas. Removing himself from a negative environment led to some life-changing additions to Grant's life. These additions include meeting his wife, immersing himself in the practice of yoga and the opportunity to compete on the show Survivor.

It wouldn't be a Heads 'N Tales podcast if we didn't talk about injuries. Grant takes us through the various ailments he struggled with throughout his career and the "more is better" mentality that led to some of those injuries. Grant's injuries include a hip cartilage injury and broken collarbone in high school, concussions and knee injuries. Grant also echoed the statements of Ka'Lial Glaud from episode 95 in that there is a lot of pressure to play through injuries as an un-drafted free agent constantly fighting for a roster spot. Emotionally, injuries made Grant feel like he was weak and fragile. At this point in the interview Grant tells some behind the scenes stories on the pressures to play injured with NFL coach Steve Mariucci. On the contrary, Grant also talks about some of the great lessons and experiences he had with coaches like Marty Schottenheimer.

"Give yourself time and credit."

Grant's advice to transitioning athletes is to "give yourself time and credit." We only scratched the surface in this episode. If you enjoyed listening to our conversation and want to learn more, help Grant fund the publishing of his memoir The Fifth Down by visiting the link to his kick starter page. There you will find what the money will be going towards and what charitable initiatives are linked up with this campaign, which include recent hurricane and natural disaster relief and Team Gleason. I personally pledged 37 dollars which gets me both a paperback and kindle version of the book and recognition on the thank you page.

WHERE CAN YOU HELP SUPPORT THE FIFTH DOWN?

KICKSTARTER

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Grant MAttos?

Website | INSTAGRAM | facebook | TWITTER

Download Episode 96 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 3 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Sproles' Broken Arm/ACL Injury

Kevin Saum — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 22:43:09 +0000

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 3!

Week 3 Injuries:

Darren Sproles, RB Philadelphia Eagles, ACL/Broken Arm (Same Play)

#DarrenSproles @Eagles
Kicked in forearm & broken.
Bad news: surgery.
But read the good news here:https://t.co/GAoEldQCrh pic.twitter.com/aihHC1xUbu
— David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) September 25, 2017

Melvin Gordon, RB Los Angeles Chargers, Knee
Kelvin Benjamin, WR Carolina Panthers, Leg (Same Leg as 2015 ACL)

Kelvin Benjamin potential knee injury. #panthersfans #NFL pic.twitter.com/msfPzcNTrJ
— Charlie Lindley (@charlzlindley) September 24, 2017

Doug Baldin, WR Seattle Seahawks, Groin
Gerald McCoy, DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ankle

Week 2 Fines/Week 3 Illegal Hits:

Buster Skrine (NYJ) helmet-to-helmet hit on DeAndre Washington (OAK)
Chris Conte (TB) helmet-to-helmet hit on Josh Bellamy
- "If you play safety, you are going to get fined."
(CLEAN HIT) Pass Break-Up vs Michael Crabtree (OAK) 4th quarter, Safety didn't use crown of helmet (shoulder to numbers).
Jimmy Ward Safety 49ers on Robert Woods

Richard Sherman (Seattle) hit out of bounds on Marcus Mariota (Tennesee)
- Took his own guy out in the process
- Clearly led with his head
- Sherman now wearing a Ridell Revolution Speed Helmet instead of VICIS
- Offsetting penalties is BS for this play

Reminder: Don't 👏 Mess 👏 With 👏 Our 👏 Quarterback 👏 pic.twitter.com/LN36y2ROtM
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 25, 2017

Von Miller (DEN), unsportsmanlike conduct, pretending to help on Tyrod Taylor (BUF),

The NFL needs to lighten up on stuff like this! This is comedy!

While on the topic of injuries:

Richard Sherman's take NFL Injury Report/Gambling, Vegas Issue

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

95 : Battling Post Concussion Syndrome w/ Former NFL Linebacker, Ka'Lial Glaud

Kevin Saum — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 14:35:00 +0000

Ka'Lial Glaud is a former linebacker for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys. Ka'Lial and I were at Rutgers together when I was serving the team as a student manager. Since I spent most of my time with the running backs, I didn't have too much interaction with Ka'Lial while we were both in college. It is more likely than not that at some point I helped him put his shoulder pads on before a game. I knew Ka'Lial had seen some success in the NFL, but I was clueless about his now two year long battle with post concussion syndrome (PCS) after a concussion he suffered while fighting for a roster spot on the Dallas Cowboys. Multiple former Rutgers Football co-workers sent me this Vice Sports article, which highlighted Ka'Lial's struggles. Episode 95 starts off by Ka'Lial taking us through the foggy recollection of the concussion that ultimately led to his PCS.

"The hardest thing is not having the opportunity to even try to play football."

Ka'Lial is forced to wear sunglasses due to his sensitivity to light.

“I feel like I can feel my brain”

Although uncertain about the exact hit that has caused Ka'Lial to suffer from symptoms like sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, nausea, headaches and a floating sensation in his brain, a Cowboys veteran could tell something wasn't right and had the medical staff take a look at him. Being a fringe player constantly fighting for a roster spot, Ka'lial was understandably resistant to the Veteran's advice to seek medical attention. Today, Ka'Lial is grateful for that Veteran because he can't even imagine how he would be feeling now if he continued to play. This is the perfect example of #TeamUpSpeakUp in Episode 93.

Ka'Lial wearing #47 for the Cowboys

Despite the debilitating symptoms Ka'Lial experiences on a daily basis, he has not lost hope and continues to have a positive attitude. He also has a relentless approach toward researching and seeking out alternative treatments in hopes of alleviating his symptoms. Ka'Lial encourages all athletes going through similar struggles to never stop fighting, because people do get better and so will you.

"You never think it can ever get worse than what you are feeling."

Below are show notes on other topics discussed during our conversation:

What can make the game safer?
The implications of more guaranteed money for pros.
Discrepancy between how the stars and fringe guys are treated.
Symptom triggers.
The importance of Ka'Lial's family in dealing with his symptoms.
Mental and emotional struggles of PCS.
- Having to pretend like everything is okay.
Filling the void that your sport once held.
Ka'Lial was only a couple players away from Eric LeGrand on the kick off that led to his paralysis. He goes into how the injury affected him and his teammates.
Thoughts on his son playing football.
- Wants to make sure its not who he is, its just what he does.
Observations on career longevity.
- Focus on recovery.
The staple move of a linebacker is the Butt and Press.
- We discuss techniques that make the game more dangerous than it needs to be.

Ka'Lial sacking Syracuse QB.

Photo: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Ka'Lial?

INSTAGRAM | Twitter | Facebook

Download Episode 95 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

Week 2 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Houston Texans Concussion Protocol Lead By Example

Kevin Saum — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 01:21:28 +0000

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 2!

Week 2 Major Injuries:

Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England, Groin
- Will he ever be truly healthy again?
- Can someone his size and position stay healthy at this point in his career?
Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina, Broken Foot, Non-Contact

Marshall Yanda, Guard, Baltimore, Broken Ankle, Rolled up on
Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay, Quad (Same Leg as Previous ACL)
Nolan Carroll, CB, Dallas, Concussion
- Interesting because he went into concussion protocol for 1 hit earlier in the game, got cleared, and then came back only to take another hit which forced him out of the game.
- Both hits were friendly fire.

YOU CAN'T Do THaT:

Ryan Shazier, LB Pittsburgh
- Hit on sliding QB

Kenny Vaccaro, S, New Orleans
- Hit on defenseless receiver

Good example of clean pass break up, Mike Mitchell, S , Pittsburgh

Play @ 2:14

Houston leading by example:

All three Texans tight ends were INACTIVE for Thursday night's game @ Cincinnati.
- CJ Fedorowicz was placed on IR (out at least 8 weeks)
  - ust be serious...
    - He suffered 1st diagnosed concussion of NFL Career last season in Week 14 & missed 1 game.
    - This preseason was diagnosed with a concussion that occurred outside of game action (very little details here) but was cleared from concussion protocol for Week 1 game.
    - Suffered another concussion in Week 1.

Oh Canada:

CFL Eliminates all Padded Practices during the season.
- Now Full Contact padded practices during preseason only.
- Expanding season by 1 week without adding more games.
- 21 week regular season
- 18 games/team
- 3 byes/team
  - All adding up to more recovery time!
- NFL currently allows 14 padded, contact regular season practices

SHORTER COMMERCIALS?! BETTER FAN EXPERIENCE OR CONSPIRACY?

This year the NFL has being trying to have fewer, but longer commercial breaks this year and eliminating the commercial after extra points and again after kickoffs.
Networks like FOX are adding short 6-10 sec ads during quicks breaks in the action.
- Great for the TV Viewer right?!
- But is this a coverup to take to focus away from injuries?
  - Keep an eye out while you watch the Week 3 games!

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

94 : Lessons Learned After 23 Surgeries w/ Rebecca Schumer Lee, DPT

Kevin Saum — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 01:28:10 +0000

Rebecca Schumer Lee is a Sports Physical Therapist at MedStar National Rehabilitation Network and was a dual sport (soccer and softball) division-1 athlete at The George Washington University. Currently, Rebecca primarily works with athletes of all levels and patients with orthopedic injuries and/or post-surgical recovery at the US Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Maryland. Rebecca reached out to me after coming across our Instagram account. She was understandably intrigued by our podcast after having 23 surgeries of her own throughout her athletic career. Rebecca believes her injury-proneness stemmed from the natural hyper-mobility in her joints. During our interview we learn about how although mobility and range of motion are important for both performance and in reducing the risk of injury, but joint stability is also important. Additionally, Rebecca feels her competitive drive and not knowing when to stop was also a contributing factor of her high injury rate. I can certainly relate to Rebecca on that one! Rebecca wishes she knew more about the importance of active recovery during her athletic career, which is a topic she touches on more than one occasion throughout the episode.

Sixteen of the 23 surgeries were on her left foot after suffering a Lisfranc injury on October 6th, 2004 during her Junior year soccer campaign at GW. Rebecca remembers this day vividly and recalls her athletic trainer encouraging her to find a hobby, knowing her injury would required surgery. Easier said than done for such a competitive athlete who saw no life outside of sports.

During our conversation she described her left foot as looking like a bag of screws (see picture below). I think that is a pretty accurate claim. Although she admits that it has taken time to come to grips with her various injuries and the resultant limitations those have placed on her active lifestyle, she has learned to make light of the situation (see below).

"Pain is your body's warning signal that something is not right"

With all these injuries, Rebecca talks about the struggle of having the injury prone tag. She remembered having both a walking boot and an arm sling at one point while still in college. Rebecca gives advice in this episode on how to use your injury to your advantage. This isn't referring to the use of elevator services and getting sympathy from your friends, teachers and family. There is a lot that can be learned from watching from the sideline.

Believe it or not, since high school Rebecca knew she wanted to be a physical therapist even before all the injuries. Below, she is pictured treating one of her patients with dry needling.

As Rebecca states in her Instagram caption (above), there is not one tool that is going to solve everything. During our conversation, I asked Rebecca about some things injured athletes and their families should look for when choosing a PT facility. Not all PT practices are created equal.

What to look for in a PT facility:

What is the population?
- Athletes or hip replacements?
Take a tour of the facility to see their space and equipment options
- Rebecca's new favorite tool is the Owens Recovery Science blood flow restriction device featured in episode 84.
- The most commonly treated injury in Rebecca's practice are ACL injuries
Are you progressing?
Are your exercises always the same?
Are you always off on your own or working with an aide?
- If any of those are true, you should look into finding a new facility.

Throughout the recoveries from all her surgeries, Rebecca has found peace in her thirst for knowledge. Reading books and listening to podcast are two of her favorite hobbies outside of physically active activities. Below are some of her favorites. Personally, I am a huge fan of fifth one on the list, The School of Greatness, by Lewis Howes.

Some other topics covered throughout the interview are listed below:

Fostering an environment of healing in a PT practice
Tips for transitioning to a life after sports or back to sports
The pillars of health Rebecca lives by in her day-to-day life
The demands of playing two division-1 sports
Sports specilization

WHERE CAN you FIND OUT MORE ABOUT Medstar Sports Medicine?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | Youtube

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Rebecca?

INSTAGRAM

Download Episode 94 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Week 1 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Segment Intro & Allen Robinson ACL

Kevin Saum — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 11:00:00 +0000

This particular episode is lengthy, but going forward they should be relatively short... I hope. Show notes can be found below!

Week 1 Major Injuries:

Allen Robinson, WR Jacksonville, ACL out for year.
David Johnson RB Arizona, wrist, Out extended period?
Danny Woodhead RB Baltimore, Hammy, 4-6 weeks?
Kevin White WR Chi, Collarbone, Out for year
Houston Texans, 5 players diagnosed with concussions
- Including all 3 TE's on active roster
- Texans play this week on Thursday Night @ Cincinnati

What is to blame with the poor game quality in week one?

2 out of 12 games Sunday decided by 7 points or less?
Less playing time in the preseason for regular starters?
Less contact/hitting etc in practices?
Less practices and practice time in general?

I said Vicis, not .... you know...

Seattle Based startup company that engineered The Zero1 helmet
- Features an outer shell it says yields like a car bumper upon impact.
- Multiple built-in layers include a SOFT outer shell and flexible, underlying columns that work together to absorb blows.
- The Zero1 helmet ranked first out of 33 helmet options in laboratory testing conducted jointly this year by the NFL and NFL Players Association.
- Might break the bank with a $1,500 price tag
- Some current pros wearing the helmet include:
  - Alex Smith
  - Richard Sherman

New rules for 2017

Points of Emphasis
- Low hits on the passer
- Blindside blocks
- Launching fouls
- Contact downfield.
New rule: Unsportsmanlike conduct/leaping on field goal
New rule: Stronger enforcement of penalties for "very egregious" hits
Possible new rule: Overtime shortened to 10 minutes

Gronk jokingly uses concussions as excuse for doing crazy things

“I don’t really think about [life after football] that much right now at this stage of my life, but I do use it as a great excuse whenever I do something wrong,” joked Gronkowski. “I say ‘It’s because I play football and I get hit in the head a lot.’ If someone tries to argue that, I don’t see how they can argue that."

Larry fitzgerald Says to aim high

Is saving your knees living in the here and now? What about about when the football days are long gone?

Luke Kuechly Dog Collar... I mean Q Collar

Photo cred: The Riot Report

"Q30 technology aims to reduce the ability of the brain to slosh/move inside the skull during rapid acceleration and deceleration"
The idea behind the product stems from the ability of head-ramming sheep and wood peckers to increase blood volume in their skulls to prevent brain injury.
Check out the video below to form your own opinion on the product:

Blue sideline medical tents, but no fire pits

Is this a gimmick or for patient privacy and more accurate diagnosis?

Photo cred: SB Nation

Jeremy Lane ejection for “Punch” on Devonte Adams

Was is warranted?....Meh

Vontaze Burfict Pre-season Suspension

Reduced from 5 to 3
Repeat offender
Been fined more than $1 million over his career for illegal hits and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

93 : Team Up Speak Up, w/ Dr. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation

Kevin Saum — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 01:20:47 +0000

Dr. Chris Nowinski is frequently credited with being the person most responsible for bringing the concussion and CTE crisis to the forefront of global consciousness. Over a decade of his aggressive advocacy has reshaped how we understand, research, and treat the effects of brain trauma, and how we play sports, from professionals down to children. Dr. Nowinski is the founding CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the sports concussion crisis through education, advocacy, and research. Chris co-founded the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank and the BU CTE Center, where he serves as the Outreach, Recruitment, Education, and Public Policy Leader. He received his Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine, and is the author of the book Head Games, as well as 25 medical journal articles.

Dr. Nowinski’s passion for concussion prevention stems from his own experience with Post-Concussion Syndrome while wrestling as “Chris Harvard” in the WWE. This is where we start off in episode 93 before moving on to the Concussion Legacy Foundation's new prevention strategy called Team Up Speak Up Day.

Photo: Internet Wrestling Database

"If these guys can wrestle through that, then I can wrestle through this."

Chris opens up about suffering 3 undiagnosed concussions before receiving a forth and final blow to the head that ultimately led to the end of his career in the WWE and a headache that lasted for years. These prolonged symptoms are commonly referred to as Post Concussion Syndrome (PCS). He recalls feeling hesitant to tell the WWE's athletic trainers about the symptoms he was experiencing, but after comparing his injury to the others in the training room, he no longer felt worthy of treatment. His decision to walk out of the training room is one that would end up sending him down a path he never could have imagined.

At some of the lowest points during his battle with PCS, Chris' head would hurt so badly that he would try to go to bed at 2:00pm, just to get some temporary relief. During this time of his life, Chris described himself as an isolated and depressed guy. It wasn't until meeting Dr. Robert Cantu (video below) that Chris was officially diagnosed with PCS. Dr. Cantu also opened Chris' eyes to how many concussions he unknowingly had throughout his football career in high school and while playing at Harvard as well as the lack of concussion education there was at the time. This interaction with Dr. Cantu was the catalyst for the creation of Chris' book/documentary "Head Games" and the establishment of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. During our conversation, Chris offers up his advice to athletes suffering from PCS. Dr. Nowinski specifically mentions the following:

Know that you are not alone.
Know that you are not crazy.
Active patients are the ones who seem to have the best outcomes.
- This means not giving up on finding new treatments to get better.
- People do get through this and you can too.

In addition, there are PCS resources on the Concussion Legacy Foundation's website.

Team Up Speak Up is a PCS and CTE prevention initiative launched by the Concussion Legacy Foundation last year. The goal of Team Up Speak Up Day is to bring the following speech back into sports culture. This year's Team Up Speak Up Day is on 9/12/17.

“In case any man in any game gets hurt by a hit on the head so that he does not realize what he is doing, his teammate should at once insist that time be called and that a doctor come onto the field to see what is the trouble.”

-Bill Reid, 1905 Harvard Football Coach

The speech is intended to be given by a person of authority to their team instructing them to report concussion symptoms in teammates. This authority figure should be a coach and/or the team captain. Without this instruction, many players still think they are being a good teammate by covering for a teammate with a concussion. The video below is an example on how the speech is intended to be given.

I am a firm believer that this is an effective approach in trying to change the culture of toughness in sports. Speaking from personal experience, no matter what level I was playing at, I wanted my coaches to think I was the toughest on the field. Team Up Speak Up Day is the perfect spark to begin creating a culture where it's okay to say when you are hurt.

Want to know how can you participate? Check out the Links Below!

ATHLETES | COACHES | ADMINISTRATORS | PARENTS | ORGANIZATIONS

Additional topics covered in this episode:

What it was like for Chris to expose the NFL's Big Tobacco approach to concussions.
Why "the problem with football is CTE, not concussions."
- Football is the only sport where it's athletes are almost guaranteed to receive 1000 hits to the head each year.
The issues that arise with the NFL being the most profitable media enterprise in the world.
Chris's transition to life after sports.
- Find your new locker room.

WHERE CAN YOU SUPPORT THE Concussion Legacy Foundation?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER | TEAM UP SPEAK UP

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW DR. CHris Nowinski?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Where can you get a copy of Head Games?

Head Games By Christopher Nowinski

Download Episode 93 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

92 : Why Confidence is Irrelevant w/ Dr. Nick Molinaro

Kevin Saum — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 00:10:35 +0000

Dr. Nick Molinaro is a licensed psychologist with 35 years experience. He specializes in clinical counseling psychology, sport psychology, executive assessment and performance enhancement. Some of Dr. Nick's clients include players in the NFL, AFL, CFL, NBA, NASCAR, PGA, LPGAformer Olympic Gold and Silver Medal winners, a European Zonal Qualifier for the 2012 Olympics, and NCAA athletes from all divisions. Dr. Nick is the sports psychologist I have referred to in previous episodes. He helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life, immediately following my football injury. I am honored to have him on the show for this episode and I have no doubt that his insights and perspective will resonate with many listeners. The focus of our conversation in this episode is on the importance of mindset in both performance and recovery from injury, which has never been talked about on the podcast before. Specifically, we explore the difference between 'CONFIDENCE vs. EFFICACY 'and 'TRUST vs. FAITH'. Show notes can be found below.

“whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re probably right” - Henry Ford

Thinking is the foundation for everything we do. This can work both for us and against us.
It is important to remember that beliefs don’t always tell us the truth.
How Dr. Nick uses The Attentional & Interpersonal Style Inventory measure with his clients.
- Find out if you are placing your attention where it needs to be.
  - Attentional shifting.
Intention drives attention, attention drives your decision making.
Where is an athlete's attention at the moment of execution?

“Can you do it? Go get it done” - Dr. Nick

Confidence vs. Efficacy
- Confidence
  - Belief about an ability to perform.
  - Feeling about an ability to perform.
    - Beliefs and feelings don’t always tell you the truth.
    - Two essential elements of the definition aren’t always true.
- Efficacy = Competency = Truth
  - Dr. Nick gives us a real-life example with two of his high jumping clients.
How focusing on the specific activity at hand improves performance.
What is overconfidence?
- Paying too much attention to how they are feeling or what they are believing.

"What you believe becomes your truth, not the truth" - Dr. Nick

The role hypnosis plays in Dr. Nick's practice and the barriers that exist with it's effectiveness.
Trust vs Faith
- Trust - proof associated with trust.
- Faith - requires no proof , there is no doubt and it is future oriented.
  - No doubt about your ability to perform.
- Trust and faith are both beliefs.
- Faith can take over for the lack of proof.
How body language translates to performance.
- Frontalis muscle on forehead.
- Attitude is about being in the moment.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Dr. Nick book recommendation:
- Sports Spirituality by Mark Nesti
Maintaining faith after multiple setbacks - look at it as a test of their faith.
Sports most affected by mentality:
- Golf
- What you do in golf you don’t do in other aspect of your life.
Does mindest differ by gender?
- The role of the larger corpus callosum in females.
- Dr. Nick book recommendation:
  - Mindest by Carol Dweck
Anxiety vs. Fear:
- Who is going to win, how well will I do? (the unknown) = Anxiety
Why it is important to have a respect for fear on and off the field?

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Dr. Nick?

WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Download Episode 92 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

91 : I Still Haven't Met A Kevin I Didn't Like w/ Kevin Ogar

Kevin Saum — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 03:25:01 +0000

Kevin Ogar is the Owner and Head Coach of CrossFit WatchTower. Kevin is a Level-3 Certified CrossFit Trainer, and is a member of the CrossFit Level 1 Seminar Staff. Kevin has accomplished the incredible feat of qualifying for the CrossFit Regionals four times, finishing as high as 6th in 2012. Outside of CrossFit, Kevin serves as Vice President of the Reveille Project, which aims to ease veteran's transition to civilian life by instilling holistic lifestyles into their routines post-active duty. In January of 2014, Kevin suffered a life changing spinal cord injury during a fitness competition and has overcome great odds to get to where he is today.

Kevin performing a snatch pre-injury.

Kevin's accident occurred while performing a 3 rep max hang snatch during a fitness competition. Being one of the better snatchers in the sport of CrossFit at the time, this was nothing new or out of the ordinary for Kevin. Kevin opened up the snatch event at 235 lbs, which was a weight that he could hit consistently under normal circumstances. During this episode, Kevin takes us though the moments that led up to his injury. Specifically, he discusses how the slant in the lifting platform caused him to not stick the catching of the weight overhead. Upon trying to bail out from underneath the unstable weight, the bar hit Kevin's left shoulder, which caused the bar the hit the weights stacked behind him, ultimately causing the bar to then bounce off the weight stack like a rocket right back at him severing his spine between T-11 and T-12.

Kevin describes the intense pain he felt immediately after the bar hit him in the back. He said it felt like every inch of his body felt like it was on fire. After being transported to a near-by local hospital, doctors later told him that the injury caused him to be paralyzed from the waist down. Kev opens up about the wave of emotions that understandably ensued after this moment. Although lucky to have survived the initial impact from the bar, Kevin wasn't completely in the clear once he got to the hospital.

Kevin's injury required an extremely risky surgery called a thoracotomy because any more trauma to the spine would have killed him due to the onset of shock. He was given a 15-18% chance of surviving this first surgery. Most people die from lack of oxygen or blood loss in this surgery, but Kevin believes the only thing that kept him alive was his fitness level before the injury because his body was so efficient at processing oxygen. After surviving the surgery, Kev then only had a 25-35% chance of surviving the complications from that surgery. Kevin obviously overcame these odds and described how a lot of things on the day of his injury actually worked in his favor rather than against him. For example, the doctor who performed the surgery wasn’t even supposed to be working that today and he just happened to be the second best spinal surgeon in the US. In addition, Kevin grew up with the Vice President of Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado is a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital that exclusively specializes in the neuro-rehabilitation and research of patients with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury (Kevin Pearce from episode 57 also did his rehab at Craig).

While at Craig, Kevin wasn't satisfied with just surviving because he wanted to be thriving. Kevin has never been someone who was okay with not being able to do something or excel at it. The toughest thing to cope with at Craig was realizing how much he had lost after doctors performed the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor/sensory exam which aims to take stock of the extent of paralysis. This was difficult for Kev because it pointed out everything that he had lost after the injury. Luckily, this injury wasn't the only adversity he had ever faced in his life. During our conversation, Kevin talked about how despite getting kicked out of college twice, there was something positive that came out of each of those negative situations. One of those positives were meeting his fiancé who he has been with for 10 years. Figuring his spinal cord injury was probably the worst thing that will ever happen to him, he is determined to generate the best outcome possible.

Below are some of the other topics we touch on throughout our conversation:

The importance of maintaining a sense of humor.
The similarities between athletes and veterans based on what he has seen with the Reveille Project.
- Both groups are coming from a background of purpose, a situation of structure, a brotherhood/community.
  - All of which are usually lost in the transition to civilian life and can be forged through CrossFit.
Barbell Shrugged Interview from a few years back (6 months post injury)

Mark Bell's recent podcast interview with Kev:

How Kevin got kicked out of college twice and what/who turned him around.
The multiple sports Kevin played growing up.
- Basketball (main sport)
- Swimming
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Football
- Rugby (college)
Safe tackling tactics in Rugby.
What got Kevin into CrossFit.
- “Man I really suck at this, maybe I should give it another shot."
Kevin's current aspirations of qualifying for the Paralympics in bench press.
- 430-440 lbs (touch-and-go)
- 395-405 lbs (competition)
How Kevin avoids overtraining.
- Good at listening to his body.
- Changing planes, intensities, etc.
The challenges Kevin faced on his quest to getting on the CrossFit level 1 seminar staff.
- Difficulties in learning how to coach from a chair.
Why Kevin sometimes allows himself to have a bad day, but he doesn’t ever let is affect the next day.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Kevin ogar?

WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

WHERE CAN YOU support the Reveille Project?

Website | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Donate

download Kevin's new documentary

"ogar : will of steel" (Trailer below)

itunes | Amazon

Download Episode 91 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

90 : When an Eating Disorder Has You at Your Break Point w/ Neha Uberoi

Kevin Saum — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 02:11:44 +0000

In Episode 90 we continue to shed light on the topic of body image concerns in female athletes. This week's guest is Neha Uberoi who is a former professional tennis player, social entrepreneur and health & wellness advocate.

She entered her freshman year at Princeton University at 16 years of age, winning Ivy League Rookie of the Year before taking a 6-year leave of absence from school to play on the professional tennis tour alongside her sister, Shikha Uberoi. She achieved a top 200 WTA tour ranking, reached two WTA tour doubles finals and competed in the US Open before retiring and then completing her undergraduate degree. Neha is the Co-founder of South Asians in Sports, a network of South Asian professionals who work in the sports industry. As an Indian-American role model, Neha advocates for sports, health and wellness through coaching, public speaking and digital media. Across the US and in India, she frequently appears on various media platforms to provide commentary on sports, women’s empowerment as well as health & wellness. Furthermore, Neha battled an eating disorder throughout her professional tennis career and that is the focus of our conversation in this interview.

This episode is brought to you by Necessary Thickness. Necessary Thickness is an idea, an approach, a movement, where the brand’s founder preaches healthy bodies & strong minds, recognizing that these elements individually vary. "Thick" is a metaphor that encompasses a better and stronger you at work, at play and at life. It's about embracing your flaws, loving yourself, and making the choices that best yield your own happiness. NT is choosing the things in life that move you closer towards achieving your own visions and goals - that make you the best version of you. To find out how you can express your thickness, go to necessarythickness.com.

Last week in Episode 89 when we heard from Dr. Megan Cannon, Sports Psychologist and Erin Sparrold, Sports Nutritionist from Mind of the Athlete we discussed the danger that exists in developing fearful relationships with food. Early on in my conversation with Neha she described the fearful relationship that she had with food which partially led to her battle with bulimia. Growing up Neha specifically recalls associating her mother's love with that of Ghee, but when she was competing as a professional tennis player she deprived herself of foods like Ghee because they wouldn't provide her with the fuel she needed on the court. Looking back however, by doing so she felt the she was partially denying herself of love. In the video above, Neha talks about her evolving relationship with food.

Below are some of the other main talking points of our conversation:

How people in the Indian Culture view having muscle as being fat.
The trigger of Neha's Bulimia actually had nothing to do with her body and more to do with her coaches expectations and the pressure she put on herself to succeed.
Why athletes should prioritize themselves ahead of their sports.
How eating disorders are a form of depression.
- Neha believes her depression came out in the form of bulimia.
What goes into a bulimic episode.
- In that moment you are doing things on impulse.
- Usually in a state of extreme anxiety and mental pain.
- Vomiting actually turned into catharsis, because it caused her to pass out, that feeling is what she was hooked on to.
  - Food was just a mechanism to get that feeling.
Quote discussion from Neha's Sports Illustrated article: My painful journey from a pro tennis career to self-discovery.
- "What followed were five years of depression, anger, intense anxiety and crippling confusion. My thoughts—which used to be on future wins—were mired in the past. "
- "My body was begging my mind to start listening to my heart."
Neha's decision to step away from tennis.
The therapeutic effects of journaling.
What is was like going to Princeton at 16 years old.
Neha's thoughts on males coaching female athletes.
The individualistic nature of tennis and how it leads to constant comparisons.
The struggles of finding an identity after tennis.
The importance of forgiving yourself as an athlete.
Sexualization of women's tennis.
- The unsolicited comments she would recieve from men.
This YouTube video:

Why Neha wishes the Necessary Thickness movement was around when she was going through her struggles.
How to stay healthy and prevent injuries.
- Progression to training.
- She built a strong base with swimming and body weight exercises before advancing to more advanced exercises.
- Prehab band exercises.
Why having more balance throuhout her career would have made her a better player.

Where can you find neha uberoi?

WEBSITE | Twitter | INstagram | Youtube

Where Can You Find Necessary Thickness?

INstagram | Twitter | Facebook | Shop | Blog

Download Episode 90 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

89 : Why Women Aren't Just Small Dudes w/ Erin Sparrold & Dr. Megan Cannon

Kevin Saum — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 13:00:00 +0000

I can't think of a better sponsor for this week's episode while we explore the topic of female body image in sports with Dr. Megan Cannon, Sports Psychologist and Erin Sparrold, Sports Nutritionist from Mind of the Athlete. This episode is brought to you by Necessary Thickness. Necessary Thickness is an idea, an approach, a movement, where the brand’s founder preaches healthy bodies & strong minds, recognizing that these elements individually vary. "Thick" is a metaphor that encompasses a better and stronger you at work, at play and at life. It's about embracing your flaws, loving yourself, and making the choices that best yield your own happiness. NT is choosing the things in life that move you closer towards achieving your own visions and goals - that make you the best version of you. To find out how you can express your thickness, go to necessarythickness.com.

You might recognize Dr. Megan Cannon (above) from episode 49 where the topic of our conversation was managing post-concussion symptoms. Dr. Cannon has extensive training within the field of psychology. She received her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in 2013, after earning a Bachelors Degree in psychology from Wilkes University.

Erin Sparrold, CN, MET (above) is a Sports Nutritionist with the Mind of the Athlete group and has over 20 years of nutrition coaching experience. Erin holds a degree in nutrition science from the University of Arizona and a sports specific certification in metabolic efficiency training. A major focus of her studies is on nutritional interventions for treatment of anxiety and depression which can be problematic for both healthy and injured athletes. You might remember Erin from episode 55, where we talked about nutrition both for athletes looking to improve their performance on the field and for those who are out of the game either temporarily or long-term. When an athlete is out of the game due to an injury, illness, retirement or other obstacle, a focus on nutrition can help distract from negative thoughts and puts you in control of getting healthy.

The next two episodes are going to focus on body image struggles for female athletes. Megan and Erin frequently work together on this topic in both the clinical and educational settings. Next week we hear from former pro tennis player Neha Uberoi where we talk about her personal struggles with body image throughout her career. You can find notes on this weeks episode below.

Body Image Concerns for female athletes:

The conflict: There is a huge emphasis on being "thin" in our society, but for some sports, women are required to become "bigger" and more muscular.
How social norms influence body image perception.
- Social Media
The challenge of athletes constantly seeking measurable results.
The number on the scale.
- Not knowing whether it’s muscle or fat.
Muscle GAINZ leading to tighter fitting clothes.
The danger in developing fearful relationships with food.
Meal Prep
Body image perception by sport.
- Whether it’s basketball, crew, wrestling, softball or gymnastics you see a lot of pressure to be a certain body set.
- Some of these sports also depend on the position played.
- Endurance sports largely affected.
Social medias role
- Comparing yourself to teammates, coaches, Instagram models.
- Very contradicting source of information for dieting for athletes.
Perceptual body image vs. how others view your body image.
The Red Flags of eating disorders.
Coaches influence on eating disorders.
- Words can be a form of gospel to these athletes.
- Sometimes out-dated information.
Equipment/apparel
- (e.g., singlet, speedo, spandex)
- Can't discourage an athlete to participate in that sport.
- The evolution of uniforms
  - Sexualization vs. Performance
Why there needs to be a shift in mentality from skinny to powerful.
Is it okay to wear makeup while playing a sport?
Athleta catalog shift
Some great body image role models:
- USA Olympic Gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman have gone through being scrutinized for being too “muscular,” but their response is that this is how they won Olympic Medals .

"It is 2017 and there is NO perfect or ideal body type." - Aly Raisman

"you all can judge my body all you want, but at the end of the day it's MY body. I love it & I'm comfortable in my skin" - Simone Biles

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW DR. CANNON?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW ERIN SPARROLD?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Where Can You Find Necessary Thickness?

INstagram | Twitter | Facebook | Shop | Blog

Download Episode 89 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

88 : That's Gotta Hurt, The Injuries That Changed Sports Forever w/ Dr. David Geier

Kevin Saum — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 02:25:50 +0000

Dr. David Geier is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist out of Charleston South Carolina. Dr. Geier has been writing and podcasting on various sports medicine topics for years, and he was kind enough to send me a copy of his new book called “That’s Gotta Hurt, The Injuries That Changed Sports Forever.” In this episode, we discuss how surgeries, treatments and prevention strategies have evolved for athletes over the years. Dr. Geier put a tremendous amount of effort into the supporting research for each chapter of this book. Using stories of landmark injuries suffered by professional and collegiate athletes, Dr. Geier highlights how far the field of Sports Medicine has evolved in a relatively short period of time, the problems that still exist and offers insight into some potential solutions to these issues. I believe that many different perspectives can appreciate the contents of this book. Specifically, parents, athletes, coaches, aspiring athletic trainers, physical therapists and students. This book would be a jackpot for a student writing a paper related to sports medicine! There are nearly 50 pages worth of references. Dr. Geier did most of the hard work for you!

Below are some talking points throughout the episode:

What inspired Dr. Geier to get into Sports Medicine.
Memorable circumstances throughout his career
- Pro Tennis Tournaments
Why it is important to treat the whole person
The inspiration behind his new book
The current state of Sports Medicine and what's on the horizon
Landmark injuries that have led to rule changes, better surgeries, training, equipment and how sports have evolved because of these injuries
How injuries affect recruiting and drafting, predicting future health
- How to keep yourself marketable after injury
How pro sports are a Darwinian process in that they weed out the guys and gals whose bodies won't hold up
The pressure on the players to get back and play hurt which lead to further injury
Advice to athletic career longevity: If possible give your body as much time as possible to let your body heal and not come back too soon
What are the glaring gaps in the effectiveness of today's surgeries
Most common injuries Dr. Geier sees in his patients
Why injuries in runners and kids are largely preventable and why injuries in contact sports aren't always as preventable
The effects of patient expectations going into surgery
- As a patient, don’t be afraid to ask the questions
Balancing risk vs. reward
- Why Dr. Geier is concerned about youth tackle football
What happens to goal setting when injuries aren’t a part of the program
Catastrophic injuries and an extreme sports discussion
What worries Dr. Geier about extreme sports
- Appropriate progressions
  - Check out our friends at The High Fives Foundation for more on extreme sport safety
The evolution of equipment and why Dr. Geier wouldn't be surprised to see a normalization of pitchers and infielders wearing helmets
- # HelmetsAreCool

The role of collective bargaining in sports health & safety
Greg Maddux's pitching follow-through technique which not only served to protect him from comebackers, but also earned him 18 Gold Glove awards
How healthy athletes tend to focus on recovery
The difference between male and female athletes when it comes to injury

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Dr. david geier?

website | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | Podcast

Where can you get a copy of That's Gotta Hurt?

That’s Gotta Hurt: The Injuries That Changed Sports Forever By Dr. David Geier

Download Episode 88 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

87 : Your Best Ability is Availability w/ 4 NFL Pros, 2 Parents & 1 Ortho Doc

Kevin Saum — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 01:40:23 +0000

This week I am throwing a different type of episode at you guys. A couple weeks back I attended the New Jersey Orthopaedic Institute's Sports Injury Prevention Training camp at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange NJ. At the camp young athletes learned the proper mechanics and best practices to prevent injuries in their upcoming fall seasons. The athletes got to hear both current and former NFL players talk about the different ways they took care of or are currently caring for their bodies to optimize longevity throughout their career’s. The NFL players in attendance were retired NFL running back Brian Leonard, current NFL free agent Tim Wright, current Chicago Bears fullback Michael Burton and retired NFL linebacker Kevin Malast. While covering the event, I got the opportunity to interview each of these former Rutgers Football standouts and NFL veterans for about 5 minutes each, which was just enough time to get some great words of wisdom. In addition I interviewed a couple who brought their two sons to the camp and we hear about Mom’s concerns, but also some of the amazing things football has to offer for their kids and their family as a whole. The episode concludes with an interview with Dr. Anthony Scillia who taught the athletes about injury prevention from a scientific standpoint. Below are some pictures from the event.

Brian Leonard (2:00):

Background: Rutgers Football standout fullback known for leaping over defenders and played in the NFL for 8 seasons as a running back.
- Drafted by the Rams (07, 08)
- Cincinnati Bengals (09, 10, 11, 12)
- Buccaneers (12)
- New Orleans Saints (13)
Approach to avoid injury:
- Credits the weight room.
Positioning and leverage.
- The importance of knowing how to fall.
The consequences of playing through pain.
- Medication masking injuries.
- The cumulative affect of playing injured.
- Compensation leading to other injuries.
How injuries affect your performance on the field.
Advice to football players for longevity:
- Prehab/rehab, eating healthy and positioning.

Where can you follow brian?

Twitter

Tim Wright (10:08):

Background: Former Rutgers football standout wide receiver turned NFL tight end free agent who is coming off his second ACL injury, which occurred back in May 2016. Now feels 100% ready to play again.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13)
- New England Patriots (14, Super Bowl Champion)
- Detroit Lions (15)
2010 ACL injury at Rutgers 20 years old.
Had time to mature since the last injury.
Why NFL stands for "Not for long".
Opened barbershop called "The Wright Cut" during his recovery from ACL surgery.
Building the business gave him the chance to see his vision through.
Importance of having a passion outside of sports.

Where can you follow Tim?

Twitter | Instagram

Where can you get a fresh fade💈?

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Michael Burton (16:33) :

Background: Former Rutgers football walk-on full back turned team captain and current fullback for the Chicago Bears. Michael is also a previous guest on the podcast and your can hear from him in episode 33. At one point during the camp, Michael told the athletes that “The best ability, is availability” and that really resonated with me, hence the title of this episode. Give a listen to my discussion with Mike about how he keeps himself available:
Focus on recovery
- Cold tub/hot tub
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Cryotherapy
Look to the veterans for advice on longevity.
Injury is largely unavoidable from a technique perspective, but positioning can help (low man wins/make yourself small).

Where can you follow Michael?

Twitter | Instagram

Kevin Malast (21:17):

Background: Linebacker who played 3 seasons in the NFL and played ball with Brian Leonard back in the Rutgers Football Glory Days. Kevin was the kind of guy that avoided the training room at all costs.
- Chicago Bears
- Tenesse Titans
Staying healthy.
- Lift a lot of weights with good proper range of motion.
  - Using muscle as armor.
Lessons learned from teammates like Brian Urlacher on taking care of his body.
Proper rest and nutrients.
Never thinking about injury and always going 100%.
- If you think about getting injured, that’s when you get injured.
Only missed two days of school from kindergarten through his senior year of high school
Toughness is doing something at a very high level day in and day out and having the consistency day in and day out.
Why not everyday is going to be perfect, but how you can make it perfect.

Where can you follow Kevin?

Instagram

Donald & Angela Robinson, Parents (29:07):

2 kids at the camp.
As loving parents, safety is a priority
- Both kids love football and they want to take all the necessary precautions to help them enjoy the sport.
Donald was a linebacker in high school
Angela did have reservations about their kids playing.
- Especially because of concussions.
For the Robinson's, football is a family affair.
- Both sets of Grandparents travel to watch the games.
Angela hopes that their kids get a true understanding of how important precaution is.
Donald's approach to coaching today's youth.
- It is more than just football.
  - Building relationships with these kids.
The intangible benefits of sports participation and mentorship.

Dr. Anthony Scillia (36:42):

Background: Anthony J. Scillia M.D. is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty certification in sports medicine. He was trained at Dr. James Andrews’ prestigious fellowship the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama.
Along with his partners at New Jersey Orthopaedic Institute, Dr. Scillia serves as a team physician for Seton Hall University, Montclair State University, the New Jersey Jackals baseball team, and sixteen high schools. In addition, he is the hip consultant for the New Jersey Devils.
What the research says about injury prevention:
- The benefits of rigorous ACL programs:
  - Improving proprioception
  - Jump training and landing properly
  - Proper mechanics
  - Proper warmup and cool down periods
  - Proper stretching and not over training.
Baseball Literature: 36% higher injury rate in pitching when not taking a 4 month break in a given year.
When athletes are tired and their mechanics breakdown.
ACL mechanism of injury:
- Planting foot and changing direction “Pivot-shift”.
- The importance of proper quadriceps muscle coordination.
- Ensuring athletes are jumping with their knees centered over their shoulders instead of buckled in.
Contact vs non-contact return to play.
Return to play following metacarpal fractures in football players
The important roles of Athletic Trainers & Physical Therapists in the rehab process.
- Modifying the standard “cookbook” for each athlete.
Why there is not a set timeline that is generalizable for all athletes.
- Recovery times are specific to the injury and specific to the athlete.

Where can you Follow NJ Orthopaedic Institute?

Facebook | Instagram

Download Episode 87 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

86 : Policing The NHL Ice w/ Riley Cote

Kevin Saum — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:52:56 +0000

Riley Cote is a former professional ice hockey left winger who played eight seasons in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers. During his career, he was known as an enforcer on the ice. Riley announced his retirement from professional hockey at the age of 28. Most recently, he was an assistant coach with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the past 7 seasons. Riley is currently focusing on his Hemp Heals Foundation, which promotes sustainable agriculture, sustainable health and clean natural medicine, while focusing on a holistic approach to optimum health through the use of hemp.

I immediately felt a connection to Riley because both of us embraced the identity of being a “tough guy” in our respective sports. Neither of us would think twice before throwing our bodies around to make a big hit, or in Riley’s case starting a fight. Going into this conversation with Riley, I strongly disagreed with fighting in hockey. In my mind, putting a ban on fighting would be an easy way to avoid dangerous and unnecessary hits to the head, without actually altering the essence of the game. However, by the end of our conversation I formed a much different opinion on the role that fighting plays in hockey.

“If you can instill fear into your opponent, and then someone feels dominated by you mentally, you own them.”

So what makes someone an “enforcer” in the NHL? An enforcer in the NHL needs to be fearless, have the ability to sacrifice their bodies and the willingness to fight anyone, no matter what the size. The role of the enforcer is to create energy in the arena, but more importantly to keep the peace out on the ice and keep everyone in check. Riley says guys like him are few and far between in today’s NHL because the direction of the game is trending towards speed and quickness. In Riley’s opinion, the lack of policemen out on the ice has actually led to more dangerous hits. A mutual respect exists between NHL “tough guys”, their teams and their opponents, even after getting their ass kicked. “You can put guys in the penalty box all day long, but you haven’t really addressed the problem.” Rule changes in the NHL have also discouraged players to fight. Riley explained how it used to be that you could fight anyone on the other team and you would both get 5 minutes for fighting, so there was no power play. After the introduction of the instigator rule, the fight instigator gets 2 minutes for initiating the fight, 5 minutes for fighting and 10 minutes for misconduct. This puts the instigator out of the game for 17 minutes and their team down a man for 2 minutes. The structure of this rule incentivizes players to turtle. This comes into play when an enforcer retaliates for a cheap hit that was dished out by the opponent. In that case the enforcer might be putting his team in a vulnerable position to serve their role as the policeman.

“To me, a fight was like a goal”

Riley wasn’t always an enforcer out on the ice. He chose to start playing more aggressively while in juniors due to the fact that he was highly observant and aware of the guys who were getting the call up to the NHL. To make into the NHL, Riley knew he had to be aggressive and had to keep fighting in juniors. When talking about his NHL dreams while growing up, Riley said, “If I wouldn’t have done that [played as an enforcer], I would have maybe been a 3rd line American League Hockey Player.” He achieved his goal of reaching the NHL, because he embraced the enforcer identity out on the ice. According to Riley, he was top 3 in fighting in whatever league he was in. A shift without a fight or a hit was an unproductive shift. Fighting not only caused a lot of wear and tear physically for Riley, but also mentally. He felt like he was in a constant state of fight or flight. Every game he had to be mentally prepared to fight someone, which caused a lot of stress and pressure on him, even when there wasn’t a fight.

Riley has been a cannabis user since he was 15 years old and although he wasn’t always aware of the science based evidence of its benefits; he recognized the relief it gave to his anxiety. Riley partially credits cannabinoids and cannabidiol (CBD) for his improved health after his playing days. He also credits his current brain health to the use of cannabis throughout his career. This experience has fueled the passion behind Riley’s organization called Hemp Heals. Riley never expected to retire at 28, but he felt that he was always nursing something during every practice. Looking back, Riley feels that his heavy lifting caused a lot of problems to his physical body. He recommends that current athletes focus more on bodyweight, plyometric, speed & agility workouts, yoga and healthier eating. Riley noticed a huge difference after transitioning his active lifestyle to this format during his retirement.

In this episode Riley also talks about the huge change in identity he had after his retirement. Removing the toxic and introducing the healing into his life aided in this transition. This includes not only people, but food as well. Riley endorses hemp seeds as a great source of protein. Athletes need to think of their body as their moneymaker. Just like how you wouldn’t put regular fuel in a sports car, you shouldn’t put low-grade fuel in your body because eventually, it will break down like a car. Fortunately, athletes have many more resources today to optimize their health, such as sports performance coaches, wellness coaches, sleep doctors and sports psychologists. However, as a coach, Riley finds that most of the young guys still think they are invincible and don’t take advantage of these resources. Going back to the car example, you can’t maximize your car’s longevity by only taking it to the mechanic when it is broken. You need to take the car for its regularly scheduled maintenance to prevent problems down the road (no pun intended… see what I did there?).

During our conversation, I was very curious to learn about what preparation went into a fight, how a fight is started, and how a winner of a fight is determined. Riley explains these dynamics in detail during the interview. Although Riley said he wasn’t a technical fighter, he still trained Brazilian Ju Jitsu and Standup Greco-Roman wrestling techniques. The fights themselves could happen as simply as just asking an opposing player to fight. It’s not always that easy, though. If the other player refused, Riley would sometimes have to force the fight. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how the fight starts because there will always be the adrenaline factor and an energized atmosphere in the arena. When it comes to determining a winner there is often a big difference between the crowd and the players take on the outcome. No matter the outcome, no one wants to see each other badly injured. According to Riley, inflicting injury is not the objective of a hockey fight. Riley stated that he never wanted to put someone out of a game or even a practice because of a fight but injuries, and sometimes-serious ones do occur.

Some of Riley’s Injuries throughout his career, where he averaged one surgery a year, included:

Two knee injuries
Two separated shoulders
Torn wrist and Finger Tendon
Two eye surgeries (I later ask about the stigma associated with eye shields in the NHL)
Two nose surgeries
Broken foot

Riley described himself as a fringe-roster player, which pressured him to play through many of these injuries because he knew he couldn’t give up his spot.

The one possible regret that Riley has from his hockey career is that he wished he did a little more hockey playing and a little less fighting. His advice to upcoming NHL “tough guys” is to work on your hockey skills because there is not much room for players like him anymore. Although it is easy to demonize fighting as it’s seen as “barbaric” when looking at it politically, Riley believes something has to slow the game down to make the game safer. That something used to be fighting. Fighting in hockey might not be as detrimental to player safety as we might think. In this quest to improve health & safety in sports, I think it is important to think about ideas such as this to truly make the lasting impact we have set out to accomplish.

GREAT MUSIC • VENDORS • SPEAKERS • INDUSTRIAL HEMP EDUCATION • RAFFLE ITEMS • FOOD • DRINKS AND MUCH MORE

WHERE CAN YOU support the HEMP HEALS FOUNDATION?

WEBSITE | music festival tickets | FACEBOOK | Twitter

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Riley cote?

INSTAGRAM | facebook | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 86 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

85 : The Power Of A High Five, Roy Tuscany

Kevin Saum — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 23:41:14 +0000

Roy Tuscany is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the High Fives Foundation, whose mission is to support the dreams of mountain action sports athletes by raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life-altering injuries. In 2006, Roy suffered a life-altering injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down and was the catalyst to the creation of High Fives. Roy turned the financial and community support of his own recovery into a ‘pay-it-forward’ adventure with the creation of High Fives non-profit foundation.

After earning degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Vermont in 2004, Roy decided to take two years to pursue his true passion of being a professional free skier before putting those degrees to use. Just before his two years were up, on April 29, 2006 he had a skiing accident that changed his life forever. During our podcast recording Roy takes us through the moment when he went 130 feet on a what should have been a 100 foot jump. He landed from about 30 feet in the air and the resultant impact with the ground caused him to fracture the T-12 vertebrae in his spine. Upon impact, Roy thought his legs were shot through his body and and he was sure that his legs were coming out of his shoulders. This injury left him without any motion, feeling or any ability to move his lower extremities below his belly button. This was a start to a new phase of his life.

During our conversation, Roy talks about a way for listeners to experience what it feels like to have paralysis. Make a fist and put it on a solid surface or table and then try to lift your ring finger up. It is nearly impossible. Give it a try.

"Whatever Roy puts into this recovery, Roy will get in return."

Roy believes he overshot the jump for a number of reasons, which includes, not doing a speed check that day (I couldn't find a good video example of this, but Roy explains in the episode), a new pair of wider skis with a fresh coat of wax and the snow being harder in the morning. All of these factors combined resulted in increased speed. Roy remembers being immediately devastated, but that didn't affect his sense of humor because he was joking with one of the EMT's about going to a sushi dinner later that night. Roy's positivity throughout his journey has been a staple in his recovery and in High Five's culture today.

Not long after Roy arrived at the hospital, a radiology tech told him that he crushed his vertebrae and that he will never walk again. This scene is all too common throughout the podcast interviews I have done to this point. Roy calls these "instances of verbal diarrhea". I think thats a great way to put it. Fortunately, his surgeon took a more positive approach when he talked to Roy, by saying "Whatever Roy puts into this recovery, Roy will get in return." When the surgeon came into check on Roy after surgery, Roy gave him a high five. Later on in the podcast interview, Roy talks about how it is literally impossible to have a negative thought while giving a high five.

"Surrounding yourself with A positive community and finding individuals that want to help you succeed, that's what really pushED me through those hardships throughout the recovery."

During the rehab process, Roy made some great strides, but had a few complications along the way. Roy's achilles tendons shortened by two inches and he could only walk on the sides of his feet. This forced him to wear Ankle Foot Orthotics (AFO's) which caused painful sores on his feet. AFO's provide support where there is instability. Like many athletes, Roy saw massive peaks, valleys and plateaus throughout his recovery. He relied heavily on his positive support system during the low points and specifically named his trainer Wayne Burwell "the most amazing human I've ever met in my life," and one of his physical therapists, Ladd Williams. Roy also looked back on some of the lessons he learned from his legendary high school cross country coach. Coach Kerrigan's influence on Roy's recovery was, "regardless of whatever your expectations are, use the expectations of others to fuel your push."

Kaizen - a Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement of working practices, personal efficiency, etc.

"I have ridden the horse hard and put it away wet a few too many times."

Roy's focus throughout his recovery was always getting back on the mountain. Roy got back on the mountain in 2008 and learned how to approach the mountain from an adaptive perspective as a "four tracker" (pictured above). Unfortunately, this new approach on the mountain wasn't completely injury free. On one particular run, Roy's ski got stuck in the snow in such a way that it caused a bad enough break in his femur to require 13 screws, a floating screw and 2 plates (x-ray right). This injury turned out to be a much more painful recovery than the spinal cord injury due to spasticity.

Roy doesn’t ski as much anymore and instead, he looks for activities that bring him joy but don’t have the risk factor. Skiing he says, no longer lights the entire flame for him anymore because he is afraid of having another catastrophic injury. You can hear it in Roy's voice during this episode that surfing is now something that lights the entire flame for him these days.

"Would my Mom want me to do this?"

At the end of this episode Roy and I discuss the Origin of High Fives along with all of the amazing programs and initiatives they offer. Below you will find some of these topics of discussion:

Origin of the High Fives Name
- How to give a perfect high five.
- Who invented the high five.
High Fives injury prevention program (BASICS)
- B(Being) A(Aware) S(Safe) I(In) C(Critical) S(Situations)
- BASICS is a series of videos that interview athletes who suffered life-altering injuries in mountain sports to promote smart decision making and preventing others from making those same mistakes in the future. Although these are focused on mountain sports, there are direct correlations to improving safety in all sports. Personally, my life altering injury fit into the Ego vs Intuition category listed below. I highly recommend watching the video below.
  - The Five Critical Mistakes that lead to life-altering injuries:
    - Speed
    - Shooting in the Dark (entering a situation without any prior experience or knowledge)
    - Dropping Your Guard (letting your guard down in an environment that seems non-threatening but has consequences every bit as real as the most risky of places)
    - Know Your Line
    - Ego vs Intuition (not listening to your gut response intuition and instead letting your ego lead your decisions against your own better, deeper knowledge)

#HELMETS ARE COOL

#HelmetsAreCool focuses on helmet usage and safety while highlighting High Fives Athlete Danny Toumarkine’s recovery from a Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered while snowboarding without a helmet along with three other featured athletes.

In our interview, Roy says a good way to get someone to wear a helmet is to ask them if they put a protective case on their laptop or phone because why protect that and not your head? You only have one brain.

#KnowYourPark

#KnowYourPark is the fourth installment for the High Fives Foundation B.A.S.I.C.S. Program Service. #KnowYourPark is a 22-minute public service announcement filmed and edited in a ski documentary format to educate young snow sport athletes about the inherent risks and rewards of skiing and riding within the terrain park. The film is endorsed by the National Ski Patrol Safety Team and highlights the importance of terrain park safety through five core values: Protection, Conditions, Terrain Park Features, Personal Ability, and Terrain Park Etiquette.

The Empowerment Fund - The empowerment fund provides resources and inspiration to those who have suffered a life-altering injury. Life-altering injuries are injuries such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputation or other mobility-limiting injuries that occurred in an athlete’s lifetime. The resources and inspiration we provide come in the form of board-approved grant funding paid to service providers in nine funding categories: living expenses, insurance, health, travel, high fives healing network, adaptive equipment, winter equipment, and “stoke” (positive energy, outlook, attitude).
CR Johnson Healing Center - The CR Johnson Healing Center is a 2,800 sq/ft training facility providing resources for athletes in recovery from life-altering and sport related injuries. The Healing Center attracts over 3,720 visits a year from community members and High Fives Athletes.
Military to the Mountains - M2M is a High Fives program service demonstrating our deep sense of appreciation for the men and women who serve our country in the military — specifically for those veterans who have suffered life-altering injuries in the name of loyalty to America. Injured US military veterans are provided the opportunity to train at a 9-week program at David Vobora's A daptive Training F oundation in Dallas, Texas and Paralympic Sport Reno in Reno, Nevada to prepare for a week of skiing at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, instructed by Achieve Tahoe adaptive ski program — 100% fueled and inspired by the High Fives Foundation.

I found Roy's story through our former guest, David Vobora's Instagram. Vobora was surfing with Roy and his crew at High Fives. After doing this podcast for close to 2 years now, it is interesting to me to see how small of a world this sports health & safety community can be. However, it shouldn't be that surprising as all our stories are similar in many way. The communities at David Vobora's Adaptive Training Foundation and Roy's High Fives Foundation are both cultivated on inclusiveness and that anyone can be a part of it. It is amazing what can come from individuals trying to prevent the suffering of others and I hope that one day this podcast can be thought of in the same light as these two incredible dudes.

WHERE CAN YOU support the High Fives Foundation?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | Twitter

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW ROY TUSCANY?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 85 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

84 : Blood Flow Restriction Training w/ Johnny Owens, MPT

Kevin Saum — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 03:27:17 +0000

Johnny Owens is a Physical Therapist who currently serves as the Director of Education at Owens Recovery Science. Previously, Johnny spent 10 years as the Chief of Human Performance Optimization at the Center for the Intrepid (See Video Below). Here he treated service members, including Ryan Miller from Episode 79, who suffered severe musculoskeletal trauma. I heard Johnny speak at the AMSSM conference this past May in San Diego and was amazed by the incredible knowledge he was sharing on Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) and the implications it has for athletes recovering from injury. Johnny has been published extensively for his work with BFR in the peer reviewed literature and his work has been featured on 60 Minutes, Time Magazine, NPR, Discovery Channel and ESPN. I have no doubt many of the athletes who listen to this episode can benefit one way or another by adding BFR to their rehab protocol or training regimen.

As many of you know, I have been rehabbing from an Osteochonral Autograft Transfer (OATs) surgery I elected to have back in January of 2016. I have been struggling with moderate to severe kneecap pain and atrophy since 6 months out from surgery. The pain has diminished greatly since working with Dr. Danielle Clarke over at Parabolic Performance and Rehab in Little Falls, NJ. However, when I heard Johnny talk about BFR at the AMSSM conference I first thought, I need to get this guy on the podcast and then thought, this could be a potential solution to my lingering knee pain! Johnny told me he thought I would be a good candidate for BFR training.

For athletes like me who can't build muscle through lifting heavy loads because it is painful, the anaerobic properties of BFR training have been found to stimulate a similar biological response in the muscle with much lighter weights. In the above picture, I am performing a step-up with a slow eccentric descent. Trust me, you have never felt muscle fatigue until you have tried BFR. It's a deep burn (Insert Ron Burgundy voice). The single leg squat on the Total Gym is by far the most difficult and uncomfortable, but after having limited use of my quad for over a year, it's also glorious. Since recording this episode with Johnny I have been doing BFR on my leg for the past 3 weeks at Edge Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine. Considering the large number of physical therapy practices in my area, most of them do not have Owens Recovery System certified PT's. You can find a list of certified providers in your area on Johnny's website.

Since working with Lawrence and Johanns at Edge, I can definitely feel a big difference in the strength of my left leg. Normally when I go out for a ride on my road bike or do some intervals on an Assault Bike, my non-surgically repaired right leg feels like it is doing all the work. However, I feel much more symmetrical in the last couple rides and workouts I have done. I am excited to see the progress in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for some videos on social media of my BFR training.

Below you will find notes on my interview with the BFR legend himself, Johnny Owens:

BFR is an individualized tourniquet system and is meant to reduce blood flow into an extremity.
If you are able to exercise at a low blood flow, you can use lighter weights to get similar results that you would expect from lifting heavy weights.
BFR isn't as new of an idea as you might think.
- Early physiology studies from decades ago look into anaerobic muscle response.
- Yoshiaki Sato noticed bigger pump effect with BFR.
Population
- Perfect for person recovering from injury because those patients cant handle heavy loads.
- Geriatric population.
- Battling sarcopenia after 50, body doesn’t respond to muscle protein synthesis.
- Athletes in season, won’t beat up the body.
  - Dwight Howard video
Both lower tourniquet pressures have an effect and high pressures have an effect.
Why not just use a tourniquet?
- Clinically you can’t ignore the tourniquet literature.
- Wide and tapered devices to avoid pressure gradients.
Contraindications list:
- Cardiovascular compromised
- Cancer
- “Sick person List”
- Young pediatrics
Certification process
- Over 1000 certified providers
- Medical License is required PT, OT, ATC, MD
  - Teaching how to use tourniquets.
The science:
- Who wins?
  - lifting light or lifting light with a tourniquet?
    - Tourniquet
- Johnny believes lifting heavy still wins overall, but not everyone can.
- Increase in lactate
- Growth hormone elevation
- Proximal changes around the tourniquet
  - Ex. Quad gets so fatigued that the glute has to work harder
    - Downstream fatigue effect
Johnny’s work with Active Duty service members starting back in 2004
- “The best and most honorable experience I had in my life”
- Limb salvage population
- Needed a strength and hypertrophy response and that’s where BFR came in.
- What goes into the decision to save or amputate a limb?
Loading is going to make you bigger and stronger overtime
- Once you are injured, the body goes haywire
Attitude is number one on the list in leading to successful injury outcomes
Identity struggles for athletes and veterans
- How Psychologists and Nutritionists can help in this process.
It was hard to ever feel bad for yourself at the center for the intrepid.
Johnny's story of 3 ACL injuries:
- Grew up in west Texas and was the son of a mechanic (That just sounds tough).
- Played High school football in the same district as Permian High School from the Book "Friday Night Lights".
- Eventually gravitated to soccer:
  - Blew his knee out playing soccer on a non-contact play in the rain.
  - Eventually re-tore the repaired knee.
  - Johnny talks about the evolution in ACL surgeries and treatments since his initial injury.
  - Got hit by a car and tore it a third time while at The University of Texas at Austin.
The third injury was an eye opener for Johnny, because he realized he couldn’t rely on becoming a pro soccer player.
Johnny's advice to athletes going through the transition to life after sports is, "what you do does not define who you are".
Why staying at the Center for the Intrepid was “Fail better” and how athletes should seek out non-health-hazardous opportunities that makes them uncomfortable.
The definition of toughness from the son of a West Texas mechanic.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE ON BFR and OWENS ReCOVERY SCIENCE?

WEBSITE | Instagram | FACEBOOK | blog

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW JOHNny Owens?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 84 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

83 : Changing The Game Project, John O'Sullivan

Kevin Saum — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 23:30:00 +0000

John O’Sulivan is the Founder and CEO of the Changing the Game Project and Author of the #1 best selling youth sports book on Amazon, Changing The Game. His book is a parents guide to raising happy, high performing athletes and giving youth sports back to our kids. John played college soccer at Fordham University and then played professionally before becoming a division-one soccer coach at the University of Vermont. John has also broken a total of 24 bones in his body so he obviously had some great advice for the injured athletes in this episode!

(Taken from Changing the Game Project's website) The mission of the Changing the Game Project is to ensure that we return youth sports to our children, and put the ‘play’ back in ‘play ball.’ They want to provide the most influential adults in our children’s lives – their parents and coaches – with the information and resources they need to make sports a healthy, positive, and rewarding experience for their children, and their whole family. Parenting and coaching young athletes is an art, not a science, and the information you find on their website can help you navigate the maze of youth sports, and put a smile on your young athlete’s face, whether he or she is 6 or 16 years old.

Their website is your one stop shopping for the latest and greatest information, research, and best practices regarding high performance, motivation, long term athletic development, fitness, nutrition, college recruiting, and more. There you will find resources, training, videos, and books that can help you become the best parent or coach a kid could ever ask for. It will help ensure that you do your part to make youth sports a wonderfully positive part of your child’s physical, social, and cognitive education.

Below you will find John's TEDx talk on Changing the game in youth sports. John is an expert on the environment in youth sports and offers great insight into how we can fix it in this episode. This is a must-listen for parents, coaches and adminstrators of young athletes.

Notes on Episode 83:

Trigger moments that made John want to change the game:
- As an organizational director, while looking for resources to educate and help parents and coaches, information was lacking on how to communicate, motivate and inspire kids.
- Watching his six-year-old daughter play soccer, on the next field over there was a ten-year-old game and it was chaos with the parents yelling at the 13 year old referee.
- Saw the need for and intervention from someone with athletic, coaching and educational experiences.
When does playing sports stop being about enjoyment?
- We lose 70% of kids to organized sports by the age of 13, often before they ever have a trained coach.
  - No place for kids to just play for fun (pick up games/free play).
    - Lacking environments where kids have no fear of making mistakes.
  - Why do people think that if its not organized, it's not productive?
Usually pro athletes retire when the joy of playing no longer outweighs the injuries or the work needed to play at that level.
We live in a world now where we compare how we feel inside to how everyone else looks on the outside.
- Parents fear their kid is getting left behind.
- Very hard to think of the long-run.
Finding value in failure:
- Adversity and setbacks leads you to where you are today.
- Seek out adversity and protect against danger.
The difference between a bad coach vs. dangerous coach.
Great coaches coach the person, not the sport.
- Customized coaching.
The importance of coaches embracing a growth mindset when they expect their kids to be openminded learners.
- Making personal time for kids.
- Being a better listener and communicator.
- Making eye contact.
- Being more consistent.
  - All can be learned.
John's Tib-Fib fracture when he was 17:
- Coaches response to him sitting out in his first practice because of leg pain was,"What's wrong with you? You don't have the guts to make it"
John's approach to injured athletes when he was a coach:
- Hurt vs. injured
- Role of coach is to take an athlete to a place they never could on his or her own.
- Is this the time to push it?
John Wooden taking notes at National Basketball Coaches Association's Convention at 91 years old.
- Embracing the growth mindset.
Moments of misalignment from John's current train of thought throughout his coaching career:
- Didn’t realize the impact of his words.
- Rule of 1, one athlete, one comment, one time can change everything.
- You don’t get to pick and choose what the athlete remembers and forgets, so you better be intentional about what you say.
- Shared personal story.
- What did I want as a player? Am I acting that way now?
Sports Specialization.
- For some kids it can be the right thing
  - If that’s what they want and they are not forced into it.
  - Still need well rounded strength and conditioning training and take time off.
- Prior to the age of 12 research shows that's not a good idea.
  - Transferability to other sports.
- More likely to burnout.
- Overuse injuries.
- An Athlete's whole identity being wrapped up in the one sport.
John’s injuries:
- 24 broken bones.
  - soccer, skiing and mountain biking.
- Yoga has helped him a lot to keep his movement and strength.
- Tib-fib was the leg fracture.
  - Initially feeling sorry for himself.
  - Killed him to see healthy people who didn’t care.
  - John saw people in PT with catastrophic injuries at 17, realized he didn’t have it that bad, he is going to get over this.
Season ending injury advice:
- For those losing interest or discouraged in returning, get back to where you were and then decide if you want to quit.
Career ending injury advice:
- Is their life full with out the sport?
- If empty, bring in professional help, like sports psychologists for example.
  - We know some great one's (MIND OF THE ATHLETE).
Transition to life after soccer:
- Assistant coach at The University of Vermont.
- Harder when he left coaching to work on Changing the Game.
Advice for parents coaching their own kids:
- When practice is over you have to take your coach hat off, or else practice never ends.
- Touching base with your kid to ensure they still want you to coach year after year.
- Conscious of their friend dynamics.
Culture of safety pillars:
- Every decision is made based on the welfare of the athlete, not the outcome of the game.
- Those of us in charge of sports, educate yourself and err on the side of caution.
- At the professional level they need to do better, because they are the model.
Toughness is having the courage to chase after what you believe in, even when its hard.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE ON CHANGING THE GAME PROJECT?

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | PODCAST

Where can you get a copy of Changing the game?

Changing the Game: The Parent's Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids By John O'Sullivan

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW JOHN O'SULLIVAN?

TWITTER | LINKEDIN | john@changingthegameproject.com

Download Episode 83 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

82 : Athlete & Vet Transition w/ Greg Jones, Former Midshipman, Host of Authentic Athletes Podcast

Kevin Saum — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 00:09:38 +0000

Greg Jones is a Veteran of the United States Navy and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he played wide receiver for the Midshipman. Greg now host’s the Authentic Athletes Podcast where he interviews professional and college athletes with the goal of providing fun, motivating and educational experiences for listeners based on the life lessons learned by his interviewees. I came across Greg's podcast on Instagram and was immediately blown away by the guests he has had on the show. As I dug a little deeper into Greg's story and mission, I realized we are fighting the same fight when it comes to the athlete and veteran transition, both of which he has experienced first-hand. If you are a fan of this podcast, I have no doubt you will also find value in Authentic Athletes.

Every kid who grows up playing football in the backyard dreams of one day scoring a touchdown either for, or against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Greg lived out this childhood dream by scoring on a 52 yard reception, and this is where we start the interview; Greg takes us through the play and what set him loose in the secondary to reel in a money ball from QB Rickey Dobbs. You can watch the play in the video below, and if that doesn't get you jacked up on life, I don't know what the hell will.

Greg was recruited as a quarterback out of high school, but having played multiple sports, coaches viewed him as a well rounded athlete, capable of playing any role on the field. This versatility came into play in football after being moved to running back and then to wide-out and then again in his military career. These translatable skills that athletes forge through their sports serve as the foundation for the Authentic Athletes Podcast.

Highlights of the Fighting Irish vs the Midshipmen of Navy 23 - 21 Navy.

Greg's touchdown can be seen at 1:05!

During our discussion, we talk in depth about Greg's transition to life after football and eventually his transition to civilian life. When it came to life after football, having the title of Naval Officer and First Lieutenant aboard a Minesweeper eased his transition. However, when football season rolled around, Greg coped with missing the game by calling up his teammates and reminiscing. After serving in the military Greg followed his entrepreneurial spirit to the start-up world. This transition came a little earlier than anticipated because of a back injury that proved to be very difficult for Greg, especially in terms of having to now sell himself and be a self promoter. As Greg eventually found out, this struggle is not uncommon. He would frequently receive calls from his buddies who were looking for advice as some of them began to leave the Navy. This is where the idea for the Authentic Athletes Podcast came from. Despite all the valuable lessons and leadership training the military provides, resources for the transition to civilian life are lacking. Greg is now providing that outlet to ease the struggle for others. Here is a link to all of Greg's interviews to date: PODCAST EPISODES. Some of his previous guests include:

013: KEN NIUMATALOLO

Navy Football Head Coach

014: SHANNON MACMILLAN

National Soccer Hall of Fame - Class of 2016; U.S. Women's National Soccer Team

016: JEFF MONKEN

Army Football Head Coach

019: LANDON DONOVAN

6-Time MLS Cup Champion; 4-Time US Soccer Athlete of the Year; US Men's National Team - World Cup '02, '06, '10

020: SHAWNE MERRIMAN

3-Time NFL All-Pro

021: TROY CALHOUN

Air Force Football Head Coach

Greg was able to stay relatively injury free throughout his career and we discuss strategies for longevity in sports and football in particular. Along these lines, we finish this episode by discussing our thoughts on health & safety and the future of football. Greg believes the state of safety in football and the future of the game is ultimately on the player.

Injured or not, at some point the game ends for everyone. I have no doubt Greg's podcast will teach you how apply the tools you learned on the field or on the court to succeed in the next phase of your life - whatever that may be.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AUTHENTIC ATHLETES?

WEBSITE | itunes | soundcloud | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW GREG JONES?

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 82 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

81 : Uncovering The Influence of Toughness & Masculinity, Dr. Jarrod Spencer, Sports Psychologist

Kevin Saum — Sun, 18 Jun 2017 20:38:55 +0000

Episode 81 brings us back to Bethlehem PA, to talk with Dr. Jarrod Spencer, Sports Psychologist at Mind of the Athlete. Last time Jarrod was on the show in episode 50 we talked about the athlete transition to life after sports. However, this time we spoke about a topic that I am very curious and passionate about, which is how our society's definition of toughness and masculinity affects athletes. This was our summer intern Alex's first field trip for the podcast, hence the nice action shots we have from the day (below). George Bright, who has close to 30 years of experience in college athletics, also sat in on our conversation.

Dr. Spencer Knowledge Bombs
Dr. Jarrod Spencer, Sports Psychologist, Mind of the Athlete

Dr. Spencer, Kevin, George Bright

Below you will find an outline of our conversation:

Dr. Spencer's definition of toughness: like the classic definition; being comfortable being uncomfortable (being in a stressful situation that drains your energy and makes you anxious)
- Sounds like our dude Nate Boyer from Episode 52
Toughest person in the eyes of Dr. Spencer : Tim Tebow. This is because he has stood up in the face of a culture that has pushed him down, but still does it with lifted spirits and a smile on his face.
- Couldn't agree more!
How the media's portrayal of injuries has masked the reality of being a football player (not showing the icebaths, opiates/painkillers, the difficulty to treat pain).
- It should be no surprise that this led to a discussion on cannabis.
Dr. Spencer believes the science is proving the benefits of cannabinoids.
- That doesn't mean there isn't a downside.
  - THC w/ athletes: can become a problem for athletes that depend on it to relieve stress/anxiety.
- The importance of rethinking the culture of Cannabinoids with a more scientific approach.
What the athletes need to know: It’s ok to cry and express yourself.
The importance that coaches understand the weight their words carry with young athletes.
How mental health is going to be the next big problem. NCAA could be a stepping stone for this.
Dr. Spencer's Earliest memory of toughness: Jr. High School Wrestler (Phillipsburg, NJ). Finished 2nd, and it felt like there was a death in the family.
- Playing through injuries subsequently.
Memory bank: amygdala serves as a protective mechanism as a guideline
Overriding the amygdala: rethinking situations and taking different angles (relaxing, breathing, etc)
A moment Dr. Spencer felt emasculated: After suffering a concussion playing football in college because he was failing at the simplest tasks, which made him feel weak.
The moment when Dr. Spencer felt like he exuded toughness and masculinity the most: when his daughter became extremely ill about 10 years ago.
- Proved that even sometimes when you are at your lowest, you will experience moments of toughness.
Where does the bar lie when it comes to toughness?
- Relative to each person and family.
How do we redefine where that bar lies?
- When we put the science behind injuries that would normalize it and maybe make it more relatable to the public.
Gender discrepancy with toughness.
How does Jarrod define toughness for his kids? Definition of toughness to Jarrod’s kids
- Surround them with the right people and role models
- How they compete, how they worship God, how they talk, how they relate religion to their lives
- Showing bright spots where they can emulate
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- Not just for Christians

The power of positive thinking.

After the interview, Dr. Spencer taught me about the power of positive thinking. He did so by having me raise my arm out in front of me, think about a negative or positive thought while he tried to press my arm down. It was amazing to see how much stronger I was when I was thinking positive thoughts. George Bright noticed that subconsciously my stance also completely changed when I was thinking negative thoughts, which ended up putting me in a weaker position.

Photo: John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Ryan Finlay (Game MVP) of West Morris rolling out in the 24th Annual Paul Robeson Classic All-Star Game.

To close out this post I just wanted to reflect on my experience of watching the 24th Annual Paul Robeson (I encourage you to do some research on Paul Robeson, he was one tough dude) All-Star Game where I was supporting my friend Ryan Finlay who will be playing safety for Gettysburg College next year. I have spoken in depth with Ryan about how my definition of toughness has dramatically changed over the years. This has also had an influence on the way that I watch football today. There were three instances in particular I witnessed in this game that I wanted to address and this was just in the first half:

Early in the game there was a phenomenal pick-six interception for the West team. With any dramatic change of field like this, there are usually many opportunities for a big crack-back (blindside) block. One of this players teammates laid a huge hit on the last remaining East defender which sprung him to a touchdown. The crowd erupted, the sidelines went nuts, and even I found myself saying "Ohhhhhhh!" At that moment I realized that as a culture, we are all conditioned to react that way when we see a big hit and that even I am a part of the problem I am seeking to fix. There was no replay at the game, but I do believe this player led with his head on this hit to an opponent that had no idea he was coming. In my mind, a safer and equally as effective shoulder block could have been used. Would the crowd still have erupted? Yes, but to the same degree? Probably not, but what's more important? Your brain? Or how "cool/tough/masculine" you look on the field? I think my dude Kyle Turley referred to these types of hits as the extracurriculars that he could have done without.
The second incident happened as the East quarterback was rolled out to pass on forth down (I believe) , saw no one open, tucked the ball and started running up the West sideline. The East player still had about 4 yards to get the first down as a defender came in to make a tackle. The quarterback had two options. He could either run out of bounds, turnover the ball on downs, and not get hit. Or, he could attempt to run though the defender in hopes of breaking a tackle, but in all likely hood still not get the first down and potentially get hurt. This player chose to go out of bounds. All the West players started chirping at this QB and even parents in the stands were yelling "He doesn't want to get hit!" In my 27 year old eyes, this QB was smart, not a sissy. Guys who want to extend their careers as long as possible should take notes from him. To me, there is a time and a place for lowering the shoulder and trying to gain some extra yards. Those are near the goal line, and a yard from the first down in a playoff or championship game. If you try to run people over in pre-season scrimmages, I promise you, you wont make it to the playoffs, but hey at least you looked "tough" for about 3 seconds.
The last play was a hit that never happened. A ball was thrown to a receiver in the flat. One of the defenders recognized the play early on and made a be-line to make a big hit. The defender left his feet and launched himself into the air like a missile to make the tackle. Luckily, the receiver saw the flying defender at the last second and side-stepped him, gaining an additional 5 yards on the play. I was sitting next to Ryan's brother Kevin and he said that kid almost got crushed. I replied to him saying yeah, but had he broken down and made a form tackle like we are taught, he wouldn't have missed the tackle. Moral of the story is, are highlight hits worth costing your team yards? I guarantee if that was a regular season game, the defender would be getting chewed out during the film session for missing that tackle.

I am not here to ruin America's precious game of football. I love football and being at the game gave me that itch to throw the pads back on. Kenny Chesney's Boys of Fall song says it all. I brought those points up because in my eyes, those are simple ways to make the game safer without changing any rules. I hope this this episode helps to reframe what toughness is to you and I believe that together, we can redefine it.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MIND OF THE ATHLETE?

WEBSITE | BOOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW DR. SPENCER?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 81 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

80 : Fly'n Helmets, Retired All-Pro Offensive Lineman, Kyle Turley

Kevin Saum — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 22:20:43 +0000

Kyle Turley is a former All-Pro NFL Offensive lineman who played eight seasons in the NFL. Kyle was Selected 7th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1998 NFL draft out of San Diego State. He played five seasons for the New Orleans Saints and a year with the St. Louis Rams before a serious back injury sidelined him for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He returned to football in 2006 as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent the last two years of his career before announcing his retirement in December 2007. Since retiring, Kyle has focused his efforts in advocating for retired NFL players and is also an advocate for cannabis. Due to his strong belief in the medical benefits of cannabis, Kyle launched a CBD supplement company called Neuro Armor. Most recently he started coaching football at Riverside City College (Listen all the way through this episode to hear about the interesting and concerning athletic trainer situation at this school).

Kyle Grew up in the rural towns of Utah. His father, John Turley played quarterback at BYU, so football was in his blood. Kyle describes his father as an American Cowboy who drove trucks while Kyle was growing up, and eventually became a farmer. In Utah, there weren't enough kids around to field football teams, but even after his family moved to southern California when he was 10, they didn't have the money to let him play. Despite this, he remembers playing football in the parks and in gym class, and frequently had coaches telling him that he could play in the NFL one day.

In high school Kyle struggled in school and that prevented him from playing football. He was very into skateboarding and surfing at this time and excelled in both wrestling and baseball (Kyle described baseball as a "hang-out sport." This part of the interview made me laugh). When Kyle got to his senior year his Dad mentioned that this would be his last chance to give football a try. In addition to not having the grades to play before his senior season, Kyle was also slightly afraid of getting injured, especially being a self-described "skinny surfer skater kid" at the time.

Kyle obviously had a very successful senior year on the defensive line, which ultimately led to him receiving a scholarship to San Diego State University. He credits his success to the skills and confidence wrestling gave him. Kyle's wrestling coach was also the d-line coach and told him told him to go get the ball and make sure your jersey shows up on film around the ball every play and he would get a scholarship. This reminded me my interview with David Milewski in Episode 72, because its amazing what you can do as an athlete when you keep things simple and bust your ass.

“There is no way to change the game, it is going to happen”

To this day the intangibles that Kyle looks for in his players at Riverside City College are positive attitudes and a willingness to learn. Side note: I asked Kyle if he coaches football differently due to what his body has gone through and said “There is no way to change the game, it is going to happen." That being the case, he said if he could go back, he would cut out some of the unnecessary "extracurricular" hitting he did. Kyle embodied this mindset in his playing days and it served him well when he ended up redshirting in his freshman season at San Diego State. Kyle was brought in as a DE/OLB and was frequently helping out the team by running scout team. Fortunately or unfortunately for Kyle, he really excelled on the scout team offensive line. After his freshman year, a new coaching regime was brought in and during our conversation, Kyle takes us through the moment that he officially moved to the offensive line. The new o-line coach who played 17 years in the NFL was introduced at a team meeting and Kyle felt an immediate connection.

Photo : Passthemike.com

While in college, Kyle dislocated his knee cap during a spring practice after getting his leg rolled onto by another player. We talked about the mental and emotional toll this type of injury had on him, but also how he was determined to prove everyone wrong and the injury wrong. Kyle played his senior season despite having teams think of him as a first round draft pick as a junior. We then talked about the insurance policy top draft prospects can take out in case of future injury. After getting drafted 7th overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1998 NFL draft, Kyle was lucky enough to remain injury free for his first 6 years in the league. Kyle credits this health to pure luck. This streak ended when he signed with the St. Louis Rams and these injuries changed his life, not just his football career. Specifically Kyle suffered a severe concussion, which left him unconscious and disoriented. In this episode, Kyle takes us through the protocol, or lack thereof at that time in the NFL. Without going into the whole story, Kyle's wife had to flag down an officer at the stadium to bring him to the hospital. The two of them got in the back of the police car, and doctors were astonished by a blurred mass that was presented on his scan. The next day they said he was free to participate in practice and he played the next week.

"Your life is being active as an athlete, when you take that away from someone and to have pain and injuries on top of that, it's tough."

This is the point where Kyle's physical and mental health began to change for the worse. We eventually discuss what Kyle's transition to life after football was like after a nagging back injury and an ankle injury. In addition Kyle constantly suffered from vertigo and migraines. Pills were always the go-to remedies for these ailments and Kyle largely believes they are what led to his mental health struggles, which included suicidal thoughts. The one thing Kyle would do differently if he could go back, would be to not take all the pills because they turned him into someone that he wasn't and left him feeling like he didn't have any control. Kyle felt like a junkie by being on all of the pills, so he began to educate himself on medical marijuana. Although he was afraid to use marijuana while playing football, today he credits cannabis for saving his life because it helped him get off his previous prescriptions. He feels so passionately about the benefits cannabis has to offer to the world he launched the CBD supplement company, Neuro Amour (Cognitive Therapy Evolved, CTE). Kyle was nice enough to give me a sample of the Neuro Armour Extract and I can definitely attest to sleeping more soundly throughout the night.

Music has always been a part of Kyle's life. Every team he was on he would rent music equipment and he would play with his teammates during training camp. He describes playing music as an escape from the daily grind. Kyle recommends all athletes find a healthy escape from their sport from time to time. When in college, he also found his escape in surfing. Kyle dove deeper into the music world after his career, and we analyze some of the lyrics in his song "Fly'n Helmets" (Listen to his live recording below). Specifically we talk about the dynamics of the NFL and the NFL Players Association and how they treat retired players. Kyle paints the picture of this dynamic by describing his last day in the NFL and I'm sure you will be as astounded as I was when you listen.

This was a particularly special episode for me because I have hit 80 episodes and also because it proves that if you have a vision, you can make anything happen. I came across Kyle's story when I first started the podcast, and knew I needed to get him on the show one day. I followed him on Instagram, where Kyle always posts the epic sunsets he sees from his back yard. I always pictured myself doing an interview at his house one day ( not in a weird super-fan way ) and it actually happened. Athlete or not, injured or not, if you see it and you believe it, you can undoubtedly achieve it!

WHERE CAN YOU learn more about CBD and Neuro Armour?

WEBSITE | Instagram | FACEBOOK

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Kyle turley?

website | INSTAGRAM | Twitter | Music

Download Episode 80 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

79 : Identifying/Mitigating Risk & A Veteran's Transition After Roadside Bomb, Ryan Miller

Kevin Saum — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 21:19:42 +0000

Ryan Miller medically retired as a Captain from the US Army in 2012 due to severe wounds he received in Iraq, which ultimately led to the amputation of his left leg. After becoming dependent on opiate painkillers throughout his recovery he now advocates for cannabis use. Ryan graduated with a degree in Nuclear Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned a masters degree in both business administration and public policy from Harvard. I met Ryan while in Pittsburgh at the World Medical Cannabis Convention and Expo for my interview with Eben Britton. I felt an immediate connection to Ryan when I walked up to him at the C.A.M.O. booth and he began to educate me on the many benefits that cannabis and hemp have to offer to the world. It wasn't until later on in our conversation that I found out the he was wearing a prosthetic leg under his jeans.

Ryan grew up in Staten Island, NY and defined himself as a football player at Stuyvesant High School, which he described as a school full of overachievers. As a fellow fullback/linebacker, Ryan was never afraid of a little contact. During this episode, Ryan takes us through some moments of his high school glory days including a play where he suffered a compression sprain of his spine and forced him out of the remainder of that game. Besides that injury, Ryan stayed relatively healthy and surgery-free until the wounds he suffered on the battlefield during his military career.

"All your live's have just changed dramatically, That said, we have to lab, we have to execute."

In addition to his influential uncle, Ryan decided to attend The United States Military Academy at West Point as a way to further differentiate himself from his high school classmates who were going on to Harvard, Yale, etc. Ryan started at West Point in the Fall of 2001 and one of my favorite parts of this interview was when he described what the atmosphere was like on campus on 9/11. Ryan's high school football team practiced on a field that was literally in the shadows of the World Trade Center, so seeing the planes crash into the buildings obviously hit home hard. Ryan had just gotten back from the pharmacy and made his bed for AMI (morning inspection). While walking to class, he heard someone say something about a plane hitting the World Trade Center. Ryan's initial thoughts were that it must have been a small plane. When he got to class one of his teachers had the tv on, and told the class "all your live's have just changed dramatically. That said, we have to lab, we have to execute. Ryan says that sense of normalcy around campus was everywhere.

“He (Professor) was almost planting the seed...Hey we just went on convoy and lost the most beloved member of the platoon, we have to go back out there and execute tomorrow."

I eventually asked Ryan how he ended up going into Infantry after majoring in nuclear engineering. His answer was interesting in that he said it was quasi peer pressure at West Point. I believe the dynamics of this peer pressure is similar to the pressures that exist in sports which serve as the foundation of the culture of toughness. Although addressing the influence of peer pressure on his decision, Ryan doesn't regret his decision at all.

Ryan was in southern Baghdad, on a high profile mission reassessing the most recently cleared section of the city on October 18th 2007. He was in a Stryker unit, which is an armored personnel carrier. These vehicles are really cool and I included a series of videos below to explain their varying capabilities. At that time in southern Baghdad the biggest threat were houses that were rigged to explode. However, it was a roadside bomb that hit the Stryker unit, which led to Ryan's injuries (severe damage to left leg, shrapnel wounds to the organs in his torso). Ryan goes into detail in these moments, and nothing I write in this post will give that story justice, so make sure to give this episode a listen!

(U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Juan Valdes)

According to Ryan, in 2007 the best place to have a traumatic injury was Baghdad Iraq because it had the highest survival rate. Despite the severe wounds to his left leg, he was able to salvage his limb for 3 years after the accident and worked with a future podcast guest, Johnny Owens in the process. We discuss what went into the decision to amputate and you might be surprised to learn that it wasn't anything he lost sleep over. This was because of the lack of functionality Ryan had with his limb and he remembers other people with prosthetics running circles around him. Prior to his injury, Ryan weighed 230 pounds and was running a sub 12 minute 2 mile. Like our man Chris Norton, Ryan advises wounded veterans and injured athletes to not compare yourself to who you were in the past. Ryan also recommends finding a group that challenges you in your recovery and beyond.

These pieces of advice came from Ryan's struggles throughout his recovery, particularly while in grad school at Harvard where the degradation of his performance was most glaring for him. Based on Ryan's academic credentials, its safe to assume that he was an absolute rock start in school, especially after graduating near the top of his class at West Point. However, while at Harvard, Ryan remembers struggling academically, which he believes might have had something to do with the traumatic brain injuries on the battlefield and the opiate use while rehabbing to save his leg. Lacking a peer group after his injury and physically being in a lot of pain led to a lack of social interaction that could have been beneficial in his recovery.

Although most people assume Ryan used cannabis to get off pain killers, it was actually the rehab done at The Center for The Intrepid that did it. Despite being strongly against marijuana in high school, he tried it recreationally while in grad school and noticed the positive affects it had on his mood and restless leg syndrome. Eventually Ryan moved out to California and began advocating for Cannabis to help other veterans kick their addictions to pain killers because he believes that has a lot to do with the high suicide rates among veterans. Check out some of the organizations listed below that Ryan is involved with.

Lastly, Ryan lives his definition of toughness day in and day out. To Ryan, toughness is being vulnerable enough to see all sides of an issue and take a stand for what you know is right after educating yourself on the topic at hand. Marijuana and cannabis as a whole have been demonized for decades and by listening to Ryan, a West Point and Harvard graduate, we get a different perspective that has the power to cultivate a new image they may have a positive affect in the world of sports.

WHERE CAN YOU learn more about Ryan's organizations?

Field - Website

Warrior Rising - Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

C.A.M.O. - Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Ryan Miller?

email : ryan@fieldapp.co | Linkedin

Download Episode 79 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

78 : We Go Where Our Eyes Go, Michael O'Brien

Kevin Saum — Mon, 29 May 2017 01:57:05 +0000

On July 11th, 2001 Michael O'Brien was in New Mexico on a business trip. Michael considers this day his "last bad day." As an avid cyclist, Michael brought his travel bike with him to exercise in lieu of using the hotel gym. Michael remembers the hotel being in the middle of nowhere, but he scoped out a riding loop on a nearby service road that he could do some laps on before meetings began for the day. After completing a few laps, Michael was struck head-on by a white Ford Explorer. The individual who hit him worked at the hotel and had a revoked driver's license for a DUI. Michael's injuries included a broken right shoulder, broken right femur and right tibia, a shattered left femur, which left bones popping out of his skin and lacerated the femoral artery. The latter on the list of injuries made the situation life and death for Michael. Pictures from the accident scene are below.

Michael was wearing a helmet on that ride and he still has the helmet to this day. Now the helmet serves as a reminder for why it is important to wear a helmet, because Michael believes it saved his life. During this part of our conversation we got on a riding safety tangent where Michael talked about how it is important for Moms and Dads to set the example for their kids by also wearing helmets when they ride. In general, most people are distracted in life these days, so do all you can to be visible. This could mean wearing bright clothing, attaching lights to your bike and riding smart and defensively. Michael urges bicyclists to model the way on the streets because sometimes they are part of the problem. Although Micheal felt that he did everything right that day in terms of riding safely, he stressed the importance of riders having Road ID's, which he didn't have on the day of his accident. Road ID's are engraved bracelets where you list your identity information along with emergency contact information. Because Michael didn't have a Road ID, he was known as "Trauma Patient Mango" after being airlifted from the scene of the accident.

When Michael arrived at the hospital, doctors were unsure if he was going to survive, and if he did, they could't guarantee he'd be able to keep his leg. The lacerated femoral artery caused his left leg to lack sufficient blood flow, but was told later that being in shape saved his life.

Back at home, Michael had a 3.5-year-old daughter and a 7-month-old daughter. When Michael's wife got word on the extent of his injuries she flew out to Albuquerque and actually beat him out of his first surgery, which took 12 hours. The prognosis after his surgery was that he was going to have a life of compromise and dependency. Doctors doubted that Michael could play sports again or ever get back on a bike. Like any athlete who received this type of news, Michael remembers ending up in a dark place with is thoughts and attitudes, because he only focused on his limitations up to that point.

Michael talks about a mantra he ultimately adopted throughout his recovery process, which is "we go where our eyes go." When the doctors planted the seed of what they thought his future would look like, Michael could only see his limitations and was blind to his opportunities. Check out his TEDx talk on this topic below:

"I forgave them not because they deserved forgiveness, but because I did"

While in the dark place, Michael felt revengeful towards the man in the white SUV, who injured him. Although it took time, Michael was eventually able to give the situation perspective after he learned that the driver was hurting in his own way as well. Forgiveness took awhile, but came after going on a trip with his family to Europe. Michael and his family visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. While on a guided tour led by a woman who was a holocaust survivor, someone from the tour group asked her if she still hated the Nazi's. The guide replied no, "I forgave them not because they deserved forgiveness, but because I did." If she continued to hold on to all of that hate, she wouldn't be able to live the life she wanted to live. Michael then used the analogy of the negative feelings or emotions as the added weight you carry around in your backpack. This made me think of episode 54 with Bill Anthes.

The next topic of discussion during our conversation was about Michael's rehab process. Michael's injury occurred in July and in August he took an air ambulance back home to NJ to do his in-patient occupational and physical therapy at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. At one point during his time at Kessler, Michael remembers panning the room, and taking note of his fellow patients and how they carried themselves. Michael realized that their attitudes made a big difference in their recovery outcome. In that moment, he made the decision to start showing up better and putting in more effort. Like we preach constantly on this podcast, Michael realized that he can be defined as a victim or by how he responded to the setback.

Fortunately, he also had a great physical therapist named Laura Fucci to help put his ass in gear. While working with Laura, one of Michael's goals was to get back on his bicycle. After his last PT session going into one particular weekend, Laura told Michael that if he didn't ride his bike, he wasn't allowed to come back in to see her, because he was getting too cool with the comfort zone he was in. I personally know Laura and I agree with Michael's description of her in that she has the perfect balance of cheerleader, button pusher and challenger. Every athlete deserves to have an individual like this in their recovery's. If you currently don't have that support, find it! That weekend Michael did get back on his bike by starting with a few laps in an industrial park. The first time he got out on the road, the first car that passed him was a big white SUV. Although scary at the time, Michael thinks this was a pretty cool message from the universe.

Michael hasn't had a bad day since his accident because the injury and recovery gave him perspective. He now has an attitude of abundance where he places focus on all the positive things he has going for him, rather than the things he lacks. One of the many positives that came from Michael's accident was the idea for his company called Peloton Coaching & Consulting. In order to move as fast as possible, a peloton needs leadership, trust, communication and teamwork. Some of the same qualities that today's business leaders and teams need to drive better results tomorrow.

We finished the episode with a discussion about the recent Toms Skujins crash in the Tour of California. The crash occurred a day before we recorded. Michael describes the crash and talks about some of the safety challenges that exist in the sport. The biggest obstacle being that the playing field stretches for miles. Check out the video below to form your own opinion on the management of the concussion. I find the video pretty disturbing to watch. Michael and I talked about the possibility of having the neutral support trained to pull riders for potential brain injuries. Please comment with your thoughts on the crash. Michael also goes into the culture of toughness in the sport and the finish at all costs mentality that exists.

Lastly, we have another supporter for toughness being the long-game mentality. It doesn't matter how "tough" you are if you can't play tomorrow.

WHERE CAN YOU learn more about peloton coaching and consulting?

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | youtube | Speaking

If you want to receive Michael’s Leadership Tips to help you become your best text SHIFTTIP to 44222. Plus, you will get VIP access to Michael’s upcoming book release.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Michael o'brien?

INSTAGRAM | Linkedin | Twitter

Where can you get your copy of shift?

Shift: Creating Better Tomorrows: Winning at Work and in Life By Michael O'Brien

Download Episode 78 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

77 : The Power to Stand, Chris Norton

Kevin Saum — Mon, 22 May 2017 02:37:11 +0000

A little over a month ago, our former Episode 47 guest, Eric LeGrand posted the Facebook Live video featured below. I watched in amazement as Chris Norton worked with the team from Barwis Methods in Plymouth Michigan during one of his rehab sessions. Chris, who on the same day as Eric LeGrand (October 16, 2010), was also severely injured while making a tackle on a kickoff for Luther College in Iowa. Chris fractured his C3-C4 vertebrae and was told he had a 3% chance of ever regaining movement below the neck. Chris has defied the odds every step of the way. His determination is apparent when watching each rep being accomplished in this video. The amazing support system around him, led by his fiancée Emily, is also a driving force in Chris's recovery. Since Chris’ injury he has also set up the SCI CAN Foundation, which raises funds to address equipment and other needs at hospitals and rehabilitation centers for patients that weren’t as fortunate as he was. I immediately sent Chris an email to get him on the podcast after watching this video and highly recommend you watch it before reading the rest this post.

Chris and I started off the episode by talking about his football career leading up to his spinal cord injury. Chris seems like he played the game a lot like I did and prided himself on being a tough player who was not afraid to throw his body around and make contact. Chris then took me through the moments that led up to the injury. At the time, Chris was a freshman trying to make a name for himself on special teams. The opposing player who returned the kickoff had a full-back like build to him. Being a freshman and somewhat undersized because of that, Chris went low to make the tackle. For anyone who has ever played football before, you hear the phrase "low man wins" at nauseam. The easiest way to tackle a player who outweighs you is to take them out by their legs (as long as they are not a defenseless receiver, but I digress). In trying to keep his head in front of the ball carrier, which is also constantly taught by coaches, he was kneed in the head and subsequently injured his spinal cord.

Initially he thought he just had a stinger and didn’t think much of it, but as time went on and his feeling and movement wasn’t coming back he began to realize the severity of his injury, especially when they called for a helicopter. Chris said he felt embarrassed when he was lying on the field unable to get up because he prided himself on not being hurt and playing through injuries (sounds like someone I know...). Believe it or not, while in the helicopter, Chris was able to remain calm, despite having extreme difficulty breathing. He focused on taking one breathe at a time to calm himself down. When he arrived at the hospital, doctors gave him 3 percent chance to regain movement below his neck. We talk about how that kind of grim news from doctors can affect people in their response to adversity. In the early stages of Chris' rehab, his therapy consisted of simply nodding his head yes and no. Eventually was able to shrug his left shoulder, clench his stomach and then move his feet and he preaches to all injured athletes and non-athletes that over time those little inches add up. This is a theme that comes up frequently from guests on the podcast.

I asked Chris about his rock bottom moment and he told me it was every time he tried to go to sleep because it's quiet and your thoughts easily creep in. Not to mention that he couldn't move or adjust anything, which left him with an intense feeling of claustrophobia. He combatted these nightly feelings by working as hard as he possibly could during the day so he would be exhausted by nightfall. Chris went on to tell me a story from when he was in the hospital and was telling one of his doctors about a new sensation he had in his foot. The doctor then went on to tell him that it was a, "phantom" feeling. He remembers this being the only time he ever saw his Dad cry. Right after “Dr. Phantom” gave this news, Chris's Dad told him to not let anyone tell him what he can or can't do. Chris was devastated, but not even a week later he wiggled the toe that was deemed a phantom feeling.

Naturally we talked about the loss of Chris' identity as an athlete and competitor and how he began to question the value he offered to the world. Early on Chris realized that he needed to disassociate his pre-injury abilities from his post-injury abilities if he was ever going to be happy. This was the first time any of my guests brought up this point and I love it. Unfortunately, you aren't always going to recover back to a level you were at pre-injury. If you are constantly chasing that bar you will never be happy and that mindset can lead to negative thoughts. Like Chris says, if you focus on getting a little better every single day and show gratitude towards those small achievements, you just might find yourself in better shape than you were before. Through his motivational speaking and the creation of his non-profit called the SCI CAN Foundation, Chris has come to learn that physical movement is not everything.

Throughout Chris' recovery it has been a requirement to be surrounded by positivity. In doing research for this interview, it became obvious very quickly that his fiancée, Emily was a major source of that positivity. Chris met Emily three years after his injury through a mutual friend and I asked him if he ever worried about finding a girl who appreciated him for who he was and could see past the wheelchair. Chris responded by saying "If you're going to focus in on the wheelchair other people will too" and that "being authentic and true to yourself and being motivated is attractive whether able-bodied or not." Emily was the one who found the Barwis Methods and their Neurological Reengineering Program. Chris credits this program and Emily for helping him achieve his goal of walking across the stage at his college graduation. (See video below, good luck not crying). His new goal is to walk Emily down the aisle at their wedding next year! Chris went on to talk about the atmosphere at Barwis Methods and how its important that your trainer, physical therapist or ATC wants you to succeed as much as you do.

We finish the interview by discussing kickoffs in football. Chris thinks it’s the biggest risk factor for spinal cord injury in the game. He likes the changes they are making to the game to improve player safety, but says he would not be opposed to getting rid of kickoffs completely. Despite what he has gone through, Chris still believe's his and Eric's injuries were freak accidents. Frederick Mueller's Article published in 2014 titled "ANNUAL SURVEY OF CATASTROPHIC FOOTBALL INJURIES 1977 - 2008" states that "The incidence of catastrophic injuries is very low on a 100,000-player exposure basis. For the approximately 1,800,000 participants in 2008 the rate of injuries with incomplete neurological recovery was 0.72 per 100,000 participants" (Mueller, 4). In this same article, the majority of the injuries resulted from the athletes attempting to make tackles. My intention is certainly not to scare athletes, parents or coaches by sharing stories like mine or Chris'. Both Chris and I believe there are risk factors for everything we do and we both appreciate the value of football has to offer. My hope is that you can learn from the lessons Chris has taught us and find inspiration through his journey.

WHERE CAN YOU support the sci can foundation?

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | youtube

WHERE CAN YOU FIND chris norton?

Website | Book | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 77 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

76 : USA Football Modified Tackle Round Table w/ JR Nisivoccia, Brian Bond & Justin Papa

Kevin Saum — Mon, 15 May 2017 02:02:30 +0000

From left to right, Kevin Saum, JR Nisivoccia, Justin Papa, Brian Bond

A few months back, my friends at Mind Of The Athlete posted an article on their Facebook page about a new proposal for modified tackle football by the sport's governing body, USA Football. This is an an attempt to mimic similar sports leagues like little league baseball which has a gradual progression to the traditional sport. I decided to organize a discussion on this new variation of American football with some of my friends and former guests of the podcast. JR Nisivoccia (episode 3) is a Physical Therapist and serves as the USA Football Safety Coordinator for his town's recreation football program. Justin Papa is a post-rehab personal trainer and a former high school football mad-man who was never afraid to throw his body around on the field. Brian Bond (episode 31) is a former professional football player who overcame 3 ACL injuries. The proposed rule changes listed in the NPR article are as follows:

Big Rule Changes Could Make Youth Football Games A Whole Lot Smaller

A smaller playing field, which dramatically shrinks the 100-yard field to a length of 40 yards. The smaller size allows a typical field to be split in half, so that two separate games can be played on the same surface at once.
Fewer players on each side. In a typical game, 11 players for each team would be on the field at once; in the modified version USA Football plans to audition, that number will be reduced to seven — though it hasn't ruled out the possibility of anywhere from six to nine.
There will be no special teams. In other words, that means no special teams in a bid to cut down on the punishing open-field hits those plays often involve.
Players at the line of scrimmage cannot use a "three-point stance" — a body position that allows for great leverage and more power off the line.
Players must rotate positions, rather than specialize in just one.
Coaches must ensure players of equal size are matched up against each other.

Below are the articles we all read in preparation for the discussion:

Not Safe for Children? Football’s Leaders Make Drastic Changes to Youth Game

N.F.L.-Backed Youth Program Says It Reduced Concussions. The Data Disagrees.

Pop Warner Bans Kickoffs in Hopes of Protecting Its Youngest Players

Below is an outline of our conversation:

What will a smaller playing field do for the game?
- Potentially more collisions
- Less room to pick up speed
- From JR's coaching experience, most of the big hits in youth football occur at the line of scrimmage.
- Less incentive to run?
Does decreasing the number of players on the field (6-9) improve safety ?
- Rugby Seven, Sprint football comparison
- Does more running = better fitness?
How important are special teams to the essence of the game?
Who is affected most by not allowing "three-point stance" on the line of scrimmage?"
- We came to the conclusion that the interior defensive lineman will most affected.
- Will this avoid helmet contact?
How feasible are mandated position rotations?
- Pros and cons
- Avoiding sport specialization
- Will this deter bigger athletes?
Can coaches be trusted to ensure players of equal size will be lined up against each other?
- How realistic is this?
- What happens when the big kids rotate to a ball-carrying position?
JR's experience with the USA Football Heads Up Tackling program
- Sees a lack of translation on to the field
- Feels that coaches are the problem
Toughness Definitions

Overall, our opinion as a group was that this modified version of tackle football will most likely not improve safety, but we all respect the efforts of USA Football to create a more sustainable game. I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. By discussing the issues at hand, we will make the sport and culture safer for the athletes who love to play the game as much as we did.

Download Episode 76 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

75 : The Role of Cannabis in Sports Medicine, w/ Retired NFL Lineman Eben Britton

Kevin Saum — Mon, 08 May 2017 16:09:29 +0000

Photo from Howard Stern.com

I remember being a junior in high school and my buddy on the football team had some of us over to hang out one night in the off-season. After eating some dinner and probably playing some Halo on Xbox, we went to one of his neighbor’s houses to meet up with some other friends. When we got there I remember a few of the kids bringing out some marijuana to smoke. This was the first time I had ever even seen marijuana or a bong. After a pretty successful junior campaign, my dream of playing college football was at an all-time high (no pun intended) and I was about as straight-edged as they come. I was so laser focused and obsessed with this goal that I refused to be put in any situation that might jeopardize the achievement of that goal. So naturally, I called my mom to pick me up. To my friends credit, they waited to smoke until after I left. People often ask the question, “where do you think you’ll be in ten years?”

If you told me in the car-ride home from that gathering that I would be attending the World Medical Cannabis Conference (pictures below) in ten years I would have said, “are you f***ing high?!” (Pun intended). I was significantly influenced by the stigma associated with cannabis from a young age, particularly because of the D.A.R.E. program at school which told us our brain’s were going to turn to mush if we ever smoked marijuana and the only thing we would be great at in life would be collecting Dorito dust on our parent’s couch. To this day, I have never consumed even an ounce of cannabis (well…maybe some second-hand). It’s funny how worried I was about what a plant would do to deteriorate my brain and not about what smashing my skull into everything with a different colored jersey was doing to it. I certainly learned the hard way that running people over and making big hits probably isn’t the best way to conserve brain cells. To be honest, I worry about my brain health as I get older and so are a lot of other former football players and NFLers. Believe it or not, the very plant that we have been told was going to ruin our lives might be the remedy for preserving brain health and saving the game of football and this week’s guest Eben Britton teaches us why.

Eben Speaking at the World Cannabis Conference on the Athlete Panel
Street art of one of my favorite players to play the game, Troy Polamalu
View from the Convention Center

Bong Making
Post Interview Photo Op

Photo from jaguars.com

Eben Britton spent 6 seasons (2009-2016) in the NFL on the offensive line. The first four seasons were with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the last two with the Chicago Bears. Prior to the NFL, Eben was an All American at the University of Arizona where he studied creative writing. I drove out to Pittsburgh to meet Eben where he was speaking at the World Medical Cannabis Conference (as mentioned earlier in this post) where he and three other retired NFL players (Todd Herremans, Marvin Washington and Nate Jackson) spoke on behalf of an organization called Athletes For Care. Athletes For Care is a non-profit organization founded by a group of pro athletes who are uniting as one voice to advocate for research, education, and compassion when addressing important health issues facing athletes and the public at large. In the steel city, Eben and the rest of the Athletes For Care team were advocating for the removal of cannabis from the list of banned substances in the NFL. Each athlete spoke about the ways they have been able to use marijuana to alleviate the pain that inevitably comes when playing football both during and after their career’s. Many NFL players become addicted to the opiate pain killers they are prescribed when in the league (like previous guest David Vobora) and after attending the conference and listening to Eben’s story, I am a true believer in this cause. I was blown away by the countless benefits cannabis offers to the world. After speaking on the Athlete Panel during the conference, Eben generously took time to share his story and teach us about the benefits of cannabis on the podcast.

Photo Courtesy of Eben Britton

Eben was raised in a family that was holistically minded. Natural remedies were always the first go-to medicines and he frequently went to yoga classes as a kid. He didn’t start playing football until he was a freshman in high school and that was after a lot of convincing to his mom who was always terrified he was going to get hurt. Even before he suited up and walked out on to the field for the first time, he was focused and determined to be the best football player he could possibly be and everything he did went towards achieving that mission.

Fortunately, Eben didn’t deal with a lot of injuries in high school or college besides a chronically subluxating shoulder. However, while playing the Chiefs during his 2nd season in league, his shoulder fully dislocated for the first time. He was also dealing with a herniated disc in his back and was on a handful of medications including Adderall, Toradol and Vicodin. Eben says that he and most of his teammates would get a shot of Toradol before each game, which is extremely destructive on the human body considering an NFL football season can last up to 6 months. Standard recommendations for Toradol are as follows: “Toradol should not be used for longer than 5 days, including both injection plus tablets. Long-term use of this medicine can damage your kidneys or cause bleeding.”

Eben described how these opiates mask your pain through the central nervous system by basically telling your brain you're not in pain. However, Eben believes this isn't necessarily a beneficial quality of the drugs because pain serves a purpose. In addition, Eben talked about some other negative effects of the drugs most frequently prescribed for NFL players which includes an increased frequency of the negative and dark thoughts that would pop up while on injured reserved, along with the mood swings that caused him to be angry and irrational. Not to mention waking up at 3am with the withdrawal symptoms of chills and cold sweats. Juxtapose this experience with the effects of cannabis and the differences are glaring. During the interview, Eben discusses the science behind the medicinal herb, cannabis, and how it affects the body naturally.

Fortunately, Eben stayed relatively injury free in high school or college so he didn't need to take a whole lot of pain killers. The first time Eben tried marijuana he was in high school after football season and had an intense experience, but because of that he didn’t use it again until he got to the NFL. You might be saying to yourself, "but isn't that illegal?" Eben talks about the structure of drug testing in the NFL and how to not got caught. Cannabis is considered a street drug in the NFL and these drugs are only tested once a year. The testing for street drugs occurs anytime between the start of OTA’s to the end of training camp. Performance enhancing drug tests are conducted at random throughout the whole year.

As mentioned earlier, I have never used cannabis, so I asked Eben what cannabis does to the pain football players and athletes deal with on a regular basis. Eben said that cannabis doesn't kill your pain, it just reframes it. He went on to describe cannabis as a comfort blanket. Eben said that every football player is so overly adrenalized because they spend all day everyday in a super extreme environment and constantly running on adrenaline and cortisol. In other words, they are in a constant state of fight or flight. Cannabis, according to Eben, fosters an environment of healing in your body. Eben also went on the drop some knowledge bombs on some of Dr. Mechoulam's research who is considered the godfather of cannabinoid. Specifically, mice studies have shown when someone or something gets a concussion, receptors in the brain initiate the healing process by releasing the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is toxic to the brain over a period of time, especially in football players who are constantly knocking heads. Glutamate starts to destroy brain matter over an extended period of time and is thought to be one of the causes of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE. Cannabinoids cross the blood brain barrier and are able to shut off the receptors pumping glutamate, neutralize the glutamate and actually trigger neurogenesis to form new brain cells. Eben also went on to tell me that cannabis is actually a bronchodilator, which means that it actually improves lung function.

We finished the episode by talking about Eben's transition to life after football and debunking the stigma associated with cannabis. NFL is often thought to stand for "Not For Long" by many of the athletes who played in the league, but while you're in it, no one is thinking about their inevitable demise. Guys who reach the upper echelons of the sport have had to sacrifice a lot to get to that point. Eben says that his transition to life after football has been one of the biggest struggles of his life, but also one of the most rewarding. He advises that athletes need to be gentle to themselves during their transitions, appreciate the work you have done and have gratitude for that experience. Eben's advice for current athletes is to give yourself some distance from your sport at times. He believes all athletes have an element of creativity inherently inside them and it is important for them to have an outlet outside of the game. For Eben, that outlet has often been writing. Some of his articles have been linked up at the bottom of this post. Eben is passionate about helping other athletes during their transition to life after sports and has helped start The Athletes Afterlife program through Athletes For Care. This program is intended to serve as a support group for athletes to share their struggle and help translate sports skills to other areas. These groups are for athletes of any level and sport.

I was a guy who fed into the stigma associated with cannabis my whole life. To be completely honest, I judged guys who used it. The judgement stemmed from my lack of knowledge about the plant and from living in a society that demonizes it. Eben says that we need to shift the paradigm of our thinking when it comes to cannabis. We need to think of the pills that are made in a laboratory as the stuff that we want to stay away from and view the medicine that grows from the earth and is naturally occurring in our bodies as the stuff that will help us. I hope this episode will help de-stigmatize the drug and prevent athletes from becoming addicted to pain killers in the future.

Eben's Articles

First Times: Balancing Football and Cannabis with ex-NFL Lineman Eben Britton

What Does It Take To Stay In The NFL? You Don’t Want To Know

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Athletes for care?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

WHERE CAn you find Eben britton?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 75 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

74 : The Importance of Finding Balance w/ CrossFit Games Regional Qualifier, Marco Dapkey - Part 2/2

Kevin Saum — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 11:00:00 +0000

This week's episode with CrossFit Games regional qualifier and survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Marco Dapkey has been broken up into two parts. Episode 74 is part 2 of 2 so if you missed part 1 go back and read/listen to Episode 73 before continuing. There you will learn about Marco’s cancer diagnosis, which caused him to miss his highly anticipated senior season of high school football. We also talked about the treatment process of his cancer and the struggles of watching his team succeed without him. To end the episode, Marco took us through his attempted comeback to football only to receive yet another sign, that football might not be in his cards. This is obviously where this episode begins. In part 2 Marco talks about CrossFit’s role in his transition to life after football and what it has taken to finally qualify for regionals (an incredible feat). Marco credits his more balanced schedule for his success in the 2017 CrossFit Open (explained in previous post) as opposed to previous years where training took precedent over most things. Contrary to popular belief amongst most athletes and myself, more is not always better.

In part 1 of my interview with Marco, we left off where Marco had just broken his foot and came to the decision that football might not be meant to be. Marco said that after coming to this decision that both he and his mother felt a sense of relief (this sounds familiar, episode 72). This decision also meant that he needed to have a difficult conversation with the coaches at West Chester University (WCU), but Marco reiterated that nothing could be harder than not playing in his senior football season in high school. Marco had an overwhelming sense that he was meant to do something different and bigger.

Side note: During this portion of the interview we discuss Marco's bout with second impact syndrome. Fortunately, Marco's injury didn't require surgery like mine or Brett Wycinski's. Marco had gotten blindsided while covering a punt after an suffering an undiagnosed concussion a couple weeks earlier. He ended up being in ICU for a week and was forced to miss the rest of the season.

At the moment, CrossFit has become that different and bigger thing God had in store for Marco. During our conversation, Marco tells us how he first got into CrossFit. After the spring semester that Marco injured his foot, he ended up going back the Neshaminy High School to help out with the strength program and was exposed to a CrossFit gym and some of their non traditional and intense workouts. Intrigued by the atmosphere and the novelty of the CrossFit movements, Marco searched for the closest CrossFit gym to WCU and found CrossFit West Chester. As a reminder, Marco was still receiving chemo treatments once a month at this time.

Little 5lb, 8oz, baby Marco (This is the picture Steve referred to in the interview). Marco was a vegetarian at this point in his treatment and he goes into some of the holistic remedies he practiced during our conversation. He finished his last treatment on his birthday in 2015.

Drink your milk kids....

After working with his high school's strength staff, Marco returned to WCU in the summer to help out with the football team's training camp as a video coordinator. Since he was staying in the dorms and waking up early everyday anyway, he decided to ride his bike to CrossFit West Chester (about a 15 minute ride) to the take the 6 am class. He was immediately hooked and it didn't take long before he started looking into signing up for some local competitions. This thought led to a series of Regional appearances with the CrossFit West Chester competition team. While competing at regionals Marco always took note of what the individual competitors were doing and took what he learned back to his training when he got home. Each year Marco got closer and closer to qualifying as an individual for the CrossFit Regionals. Last year in 2016 he missed qualifying by one spot, but you might be surprised to find out what change he made in his schedule to finally qualify in 2017. Only the top 20 Men & Woman from the Mid Atlantic region advance to Regionals after completing the Open workouts (view video in Episode 73 is this sounds like a foreign language).

Only the top 20 Men & Woman from the Mid Atlantic region advance to Regionals after completing the Open workouts (view video in Episode 73 is this sounds like a foreign language).

After missing 20 man cut-off for regionals by one spot in 2016, Marco felt like he might have been a little too focused on CrossFit. Marco decided to redirect his focus back on finishing school and has recently completed an internship with the strength staff at Villanova football. He also started started following the Misfit Athletics training program. At one point during the interview, we talked about how he stays healthy with all the training volume he does. He credits his health to trying his hardest not to over do it and implementing non-traditional CrossFit movements to his repertoire. Specifically, he has adopted many of the training methods from Mark Boyle's strength and conditioning program (from the Boston area). Mark's program utilizes unilateral movements in different planes of motion. During this part of our conversation, Marco stresses the importance of finding balance in life because it can be toxic to constantly be on the go.

Like Marco, I found CrossFit back in 2012 when one of my buddies who I worked with on the Rutgers football team introduced me to a workout. I was immediately hooked and it was the first thing that made me feel alive after being told I could never play football again. I highly recommend athletes transitioning to a life after sports try CrossFit, not just for the endorphin high, but for the camaraderie as well. I fell in love with the sport at District CrossFit in Washington DC, where it was cooler to move well and have great joint mobility than it was to lift heavy shit and look "tough." Now that I think about it, the further removed I got from the gym, the more I started getting hurt... I need balance. Everyone needs balance.

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW MARCO DAPKEY?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 74 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

73 : Stripped of Football Glory By Cancer w/ CrossFit Games Regional Qualifier, Marco Dapkey - Part 1/2

Kevin Saum — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 02:23:01 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast we hear from Marco Dapkey who is a survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and has recently qualified for the CrossFit Regionals (an absolutely incredible feat). Marco's interview has been broken up into two parts. In part one (Episode 73) we learn about Marco’s cancer diagnosis, which caused him to miss his highly anticipated senior season of high school football. We also talked about the treatment process and the struggles of watching his team succeed without him. To end the episode, Marco took us through his attempted comeback to football only to receive yet another sign that football might not be in his cards.

As I have mentioned in many of the previous podcast episodes, CrossFit was a great outlet for me in my transition to life after sports. Marco obviously felt the same connection to the sport and has excelled to an elite level. For those of you wondering what CrossFit is, what the regionals are and why you should care, the video below will explain.

To put it in simple terms, CrossFit is a high-intensity fitness program incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise. You don't necessarily need to compete in CrossFit, and I would venture to guess that most people who consider themselves "CrossFitters" don't. For athletes who miss the feeling of competition, there are plenty of opportunities to get your fix in the sport. The video above explains the general gist of the CrossFit Games, but the specifics have changed slightly since this video was published. It is now actually much more difficult to qualify for regionals because only the top 10 men and 10 women from Asia, Africa and Latin America, 20 men and 20 women from Canada West, Canada East and all U.S. Open Regions, and 30 men and 30 women from Australia and Europe are invited to compete. In 2016, 324,307 participants from 175 countries participated in the open, further proving how difficult it is to qualify for regionals. We will save the rest of the CrossFit talk for part 2.

Before Marco found CrossFit, he was captain of his football team at Neshaminy High School where he played safety and outside linebacker. There was lots of hype going into his senior season with the prospects of Division 1 scholarships and a state title. As the team began to wrap up their spring strength and conditioning program at the end of Marco's junior year, he started feeling sick. This feeling started off with a cold that had him coughing and wheezing and no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to kick it. He eventually came down with swelling in his throat and a lump in his cheek. Each of these symptoms came about over a span of 3-4 weeks. All the while, Marco was suffering his way through practices and training sessions like any competitive athlete would have done. Marco recalled that a week before he was diagnosed with cancer his team was testing their lifts before the start of summer training. Despite feeling like hell and unknowingly having cancer, he ended up power cleaning 285 lbs and squatting 485 lbs. Marco said he almost fainted after the squat and knew in his gut that something was seriously wrong.

Eventually his symptoms got so bad that he needed to be taken to the hospital after having difficulty breathing. After a slew of tests, X-rays and a bone marrow biopsy the doctor confirmed that he had cancer. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia to be exact (just like our Episode 24 guest, Dan Exter). With dreams of playing college football and winning a state championship the first thing he asked his doctor at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) was could he play football. After learning about the treatment process he realized football was not an option and that news was the only thing that made him cry throughout the whole process. As a football player, you often feel invincible so the question of how could this happen to me quickly consumed Marco's thoughts, especially because no one had an answer as to why he got cancer. Fortunately, the treatment protocol for Marco's cancer had a strong track record, but it was going to be a long road.

Marco's treatment plan of action was as follows:

Stay in the hospital for a month, or until the cancer has been proved to be in remission.
- Leukemia is a blood cancer, so he had tumors everywhere.
- He was on a lot of steroids, "not the good kind" to suppress the tumors.
Over the next six months Marco received out patient treatments once a week.
- Felt really sick
- Lost his hair
- Suffered from a pulmonary embolism
The last leg of his treatments included 2.5 years of maintenance where he got chemo treatments once a month.
- This is the phase that he was able to start getting his life back together.

Marco #7

Despite having a lot of positive support throughout the process, once football season rolled around, Marco struggled mentally and emotionally. Being a team captain, Marco wanted to be at every game, but didn't want to show any inclination of weakness. He remembers mentally putting himself into the plays and couldn't help but think about what could have been. He also struggled to fight off the jealousy he felt when his teammates were out there on the field even though he still wanted them to succeed. Marco says that being unable to play that season still haunts him every so often. I feel your pain brother.

Despite the down times, Marco was always about quickly turning negative thoughts into positive ones. Marco's cancer was a pediatric cancer and he was inspired by the young kids receiving treatments at CHOP. He reminded himself that the younger kids, who didn't have the opportunity to develop the mental toughness he was able to forge over his years of playing football, had it worse than he did.

We begin to transition into part 2 of Marco's story by talking about how he ordered P90X when he got home from CHOP because of all the infomercials he watched in the wee hours of the morning when he couldn't sleep. After getting home and eager to put some of his muscle back on, Marco remembered trying to do five pushups in the first workout and was out of breath. He quickly realized he wasn't quite ready for that yet, but started back up with the regimen when he entered maintenance phase of chemo. P90X was especially beneficial because it allowed him to workout in the safety of his own house to avoid infection.

As mentioned earlier in this post, the maintenance phase of Marco's treatment lasted for 2.5 years. Marco decided to attend West Chester University (WCU) so he could continue his treatments at CHOP. It didn't take long before Marco got the idea to walk on to the WCU football team because one of his high school teammates was playing there. The doctors told him he could pursue this goal while receiving treatment. Marco was actually recruited by WCU in high school but did not go after the opportunity because of his dreams of playing Division 1. The WCU coaches remembered Marco and had him filming practice to start out. Eventually he started doing some drills but felt slow and lacked motor control. However, he worked his butt off over winter break and was finally getting back in the swing of things. The WCU coaches were also making note of his significant improvements. Unfortunately, Marco ended up breaking his foot playing pick-up basketball with some friends and came to the decision that maybe he wasn't meant to play football.

Stay tuned for next week's episode for part 2 of Marco's story where we focus on his transition to life after football.

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Marco dapkey?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 73 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

72 : Controlling Your Controllables w/ 1st Team Academic All-American, David Milewski

Kevin Saum — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 11:00:00 +0000

As per a request from one of our frequent listeners, Brett Morris ( @brettmo.44 ) we are choosing not to let this episode brew in the interview arsenal. David Milewski is a former Rutgers football captain who overcame three ACL surgeries on the same knee throughout his career. During our interview, David said one thing that his coaches preached that really resonated with him was to "control your controllables." David couldn't control his ACL, but he could control his effort in his rehab, in the weight room and in the classroom. This mentality eventually earned him 1st team academic All-American honors. Only 24 college football players in the country achieve this honor. David's effort and success outside of his sport makes him a perfect example to follow for athletes overcoming injuries and working their way back to the field.

Early on in our conversation David talks about a pinched nerve/stinger injury he had in his neck during his Junior year of high school. As we know, a high school football players Junior season is the most important for college recruiting. Unfortunately, this neck injury eventually led to David being carted off on a stretcher and forced him to miss 4 or 5 games that year. David talked about how this was a continuously aggravated stinger where any contact to his head caused a stinger (temporary burning/tingling/numbness...football players know the feeling). Both of us grew up with old school coaches who taught us how to tough it out. Looking back, David feels this was an injury he should have been more cautious with.

We had a very unique and interesting conversation about the culture of toughness in football. David described the difficult dynamic that exists when you are one of the new, young and inexperienced guys on the team. No matter how much success you had in high school, in the eyes of the coaches and your more seasoned teammates, you haven’t made it yet. During this time, each practice and training session serves as a proving ground to display your "toughness." Coaches try to groom you into the players they want on their team. This creates a situation where the young athletes are forced to walk the line between being "tough" and being stupid. David admitted that he didn't find this line until his red shirt junior season. This is when he finally realized how to take care of his body for the long haul and knew he wouldn't be judged, questioned or ridiculed by choosing to sit out. ( We also talk about the effect this dynamic has with concussions at 38:40).

What did it take to earn the level of respect necessary to avoid the doubt that many teammates have for their teammates injuries? David's first ACL injury occurred during his freshman year. It was early on in the season and he was getting reps with the second team defense at linebacker (which added to his disappointment after the injury). At the end of most practices, there was a supplemental practice for the scout team players, so they got a chance to learn the Rutgers playbook instead of the opponents. During one of these supplemental sessions (thud tempo: defenders wrap up ball carriers, but don't bring them down to the ground. Thud tempo is a good way to prevent injuries, but it unfortunately backfired on him) David was chasing a receiver up the side line and as he attempts to make contact with the receiver and dislodge the ball, he remembers that he cant go to the ground (or else he will get ripped by the coaches haha) so he reaches his leg out to stay off the ground and he ended up hyper-extending his knee. He heard a pop and immediately knew something was wrong.

It was recommended to David that he use his patella tendon to reconstruct his ACL. He eventually had a serious infection from surgery, lost 30 lbs. During this time he was still going to team meetings and injecting himself with iv antibiotics. He also had to have two more surgeries to clean up the infection. This is where David began to embrace the mindset of “control your controllables." While David was sidelined while he rehabbed, it was important to him to excel at the things he could control, which included rehab, weight room training and school. This way of thinking worked for David and he ended up running his fastest 40 yard dash time ever after this surgery. Unfotunatlely, all it took to re-tear the repaired ACL was making a little cut on the field in another practice early in the following season. His third ACL injury was more of the same. The first three seasons of David's college football career all ended in ACL reconstructions on the same knee.

“thank god you don’t have to go to practice anymore”

Surprisingly, after this second ACL injury David said he felt more relieved than disappointed because the intense anxiety he would get from practice. He talked about the "hour of bliss after practice" where he would eat lunch with the team, but then as soon as that was over, he was already worried about the next day's practice. Although most athletes would never admit this, I am sure the thought has crossed everyone's mind at some point. This led to a conversation about coaching styles and how it's important to utilize different styles for different players. Not everyone is the same, so you can't coach everyone the same. David talked extensively about coach Panagos who made football fun for David again. After 27 months in the weight room, rehabbing from all his surgeries he had put on enough size to make the move from line backer to the defensive line. Coach Panagos was the defensive line coach and he told David "I don’t care about making plays, the only thing I want to see you do is run around the field like your hair is on fire.” The one thing you can always control in a football game is your effort. David said once he took that approach instead of worrying about making a mistake, the plays come to you! Luckily, David was able to stay injury free for the final two seasons of his career and was ultimately voted team captain in his senior campaign.

David with 2 other Heads 'N Tales Podcast Guests, Eric Legrand and Michael Burton #46

Photo by Joe Hermitt | PennLive.com

As you might expect, we had a toughness discussion. Looking back, David thinks that toughness was setting 2 or 3 alarms every single day because you could never be late to practice, being on time to all classes and meetings, being engaged in those classes and meetings, and making the right small decisions all the time. Everyone can control that version of toughness.

"You put your signature on everything you do"

What kept David coming back to football after the injuries? During our discussion he disclosed he thought he would have been a failure if he didn't come back to the team after each surgery because no doctor ever said he couldn’t fully recover and be successful. He wanted to make sure he exhausted all possible options. However, while David's buddies were training for the NFL Combine and their pro-days after their Quick Lane Bowl victory, he decided to pass on the NFL dreams he came to Rutgers with.

After tearing his ACL the first time as a freshman, David realized how quickly sports can be taken away from your life and how you have no control over it. With this in mind, establishing an identity outside of football came naturally to him. Early on, he learned to be a competitor on and off the field. David relishes in the opportunity to prove people wrong, especially students and professors who stereotyped him into the "dumb jock" category. David's advice to athletes looking to succeed outside their sport is that you put your signature on everything you do, so take pride in everything. David also gives tips to athletes who might be struggling to keep their grades up. One tip is learning teaching styles and having a good understanding of your learning style. He believes the passcode for college is that you can marry teaching and learning styles.

David had aspirations to become a Naval Officer after college, but was denied because of the extensive medical history on his knee. He was angry initially and said the days after getting that news were some of the toughest he experienced in his transition to life after football. Fortunately, David controlled his controllables, took pride in his signature and built himself quite the resume to attract employers. Not all athletes handle adversity like David did, but I hope this episode serves as a roadmap to success. To close, David's advice to transitioning athletes is know who you are and what makes you happy and be okay with that. David put the work in while he was an athlete and it paid off for him when football ended.

Want to get in touch with David? Send an Email to kevin@headsntales.org and I will coordinate.

Download Episode 72 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

71 : Overcoming Fear w/ Purpose 2 Play Founder, Kim Constantinesco

Kevin Saum — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 00:06:56 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast we hear from founder and editor-in-chief of Purpose 2 Play, Kim Constantinesco. Purpose 2 Play is a sports blog that showcases powerful and inspiring sports stories. My story was recently featured on her website and in talking to Kim, I learned about her own amazing story of perseverance. Kim lives in Colorado and in 2011 she suffered a severe neck injury while snowboarding at the Keystone Resort with some of her friends. It snowed 8 inches the night before, and Kim and her friends hiked into the back bowl where they built a jump with avalanche shovels. She had done some flips off this jumps a few times before a friend of a friend decided to modify the lip of the jump. Kim was the first to attempt a backflip after the modifications were made and as she was about to go airborne, the new lip crumbled and she landed on her head.

Photo provided by Kim Constantinesco

Kim had numbness in her arm immediately after the injury, but was able to get back down the mountain under her own power. Her shoulder was most symptomatic after the accident, but after countless X-rays, cortisone shots and physical therapy appointments Kim's pain couldn't be relieved. Kim then decided to switch to a new doctor, who started looking at her neck. This doctor discovered herniated discs in c5 c6. In an attempt to avoid surgery she tried spine injections and once again found no relief. Eventually Kim needed an anterior discectomy fusion, which is the same surgery that Peyton Manning underwent. During this surgery, the doctor discovered Kim had chipped a piece of her vertebrae in addition to her herniated disks. The surgery required the removal of the damaged discs and replacing them with cadaver bone. To fuse the bones the surgeon had to insert a metal plate and four screws. Kim was then forced to wear a c-collar after surgery for 12 weeks. This proved to be a difficult task because she has always had a hard time sitting still. This experience eventually helped break the ice with Peyton Manning while Kim was covering the Denver Broncos.

Photo provided by Kim Constantinesco

After being forced to sit out from activities that brought her the greatest joy, Kim found it difficult to watch her friends do what she loved. This period of healing is difficult for most athletes. Kim has a background in psychology and used some visualization techniques to help her through this difficult time. She also constantly reminded herself that these feelings weren't going to be forever. She set her sights on running the New York City Marathon. Setting goals during your recovery is another way to manage the mental and emotional struggles associated with rehabbing from an injury.

In our interview, Kim also talked about overcoming the fears associated with getting back on her board. Kim actually went back to Keystone exactly one year from the anniversary and tried another back flip. This was after two months of physical therapy and after receiving full medical clearance from her doctors. Leading up to this moment she pictured and rehearsed successful flips in her mind. A mental trick she uses when she has a negative thought is to picture the placing the thought in a windowless room with a chair and shackles. She then takes the thought and shackles it to the chair, shuts the light off and closes the door and throws the key away.

Photo provided by Kim Constantinesco

"I believe fear is something that deserves to be recognized and it can actually help us in certain situations. I like to examine fear and put it under the microscope and try to figure out a way to manipulate that fear into something more productive."

Kim believes fear deserves to be recognized, but she tries to figure out how to manipulate that fear into something that is productive. Kim's psychology background makes this episode extremely valuable because she is comfortable at dissecting and communicating her emotions. In addition, we discussed ways athletes can best navigate the stages of grief, which include denial, anger and acceptance.

Kim covered the Broncos during "Tebow Mania" and of course I had to ask about our boy Timmy in the interview. Her observation about Tim is that football was just a job for him and it was not his life’s purpose. There is a lot more to life than football and all sports for that matter. Kim eventually became tired of covering the same stories in the NFL and decided to start Purpose 2 Play at the end of 2013. I asked about some common threads that come up from her interviewees and she said all of them learned how to turn adversity into triumph. Kim also wrote a children's book called "Solar the Polar" which is described as a fun winter romp that gives a gentle nod to Arctic warming, snow safety, and enjoying life with a disability. If you enjoy this podcast, you will also love the stories on Purpose 2 Play! This fall, running sports journalism program for teens, where teens can interview athletes and publish on Purpose 2 Play.

To close out the interview I asked Kim what her thoughts were on parents not letting their kids play sports because of fear of injury. Although not a Mom, she says she probably wouldn't let her kid play football unless he was a kicker, but experiencing the glory and the tragedy is a key learning concept and sports serve as practice for life. Thanks to social media, it is easy to compare ourselves to others and to focus on results instead of the journey. Because of this, Kim's advice to athletes is to appreciate the attempt, the training, and the early alarm clocks.

WHERE CAN YOU find Purpose 2 play?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Kim constantinesco?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 71 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

70 : Heart is Hunger, Toughness is Time, Griffin Murray

Kevin Saum — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 11:00:00 +0000

I felt a strong connection with this week's guest because we played football with the same style. Griffin Murray was a preferred walk-on for the Rutgers University football team (where we met). Like all walk-ons, Griffin had to do whatever he could to stand out on the field and earn the respect of his teammates and coaches. Early on in our conversation Griffin acknowledged his struggles with learning disabilities and difficulty in making friends while growing up, but that he ultimately found a home and a purpose in football. Griffin wasn't the kind of player who was going to whip out an Odell Beckham catch or ever wow coaches with his 40 time, but he always made his presence felt with his heart and intense passion for the game. You can feel the passion and intensity in Griffin's voice throughout the entire interview.

Everyone has experienced those "Ohhhhh" moments in a football game either as an athlete or spectator. These instances usually come after hearing the crack of the helmets colliding. Griffin relished in these moments...And so did I. Griffin embraced his role on the field as The Disrupter and was never afraid to get in your face. Unfortunately, fulfilling this role was often at the expense of his health.

Griffin and I had a really interesting conversation heart and toughness in this episode. He says heart is hunger in the moment and toughness is time. I had never thought about toughness in this way before, but it makes complete sense. Griffin put it in these terms, heart is a game, but toughness is 13 games. I really like this definition of toughness because whats the point of playing injured and sacrificing your body if you can't live to fight another day? This is where Griffin explains the decision athletes need to make to play smart and to understand there is a difference between being injured and being hurt. Run out of bounds instead of lowering your shoulder, don't lead with your head, take the path of least resistance.

"You are doing your teammates a disservice by playing hurt, when ones ego gets in the way, you have to ask yourself, who are you hurting the most. If you're at 90% the guy next to you has to give 110%."

According to Griffin, coaches would often say throughout his career "if your maintenance outweighs your production, its time for you to leave." Griffin has come to realize that you are doing your teammates a disservice by playing hurt, when ones ego gets in the way, you have to ask yourself, who are you hurting the most? If you're at 90% the guy next to you has to give 110%." During the interview, Griffin uses a cool spartan analogy to explain how each soldier benefits from the protection of their neighbors' shields as well as their own. This is a message I want all athletes to embrace. You might think you are being "cool" or "tough" by playing hurt, but you are really just putting yourself at greater risk to further injure yourself and you are relying on your teammates to pick up your slack. Learn from Griffin and I because unfortunately, we learned this far too late. At one point during our conversation Griffin estimated that he suffered at least 20 concussions throughout his athletic career, but believes he could have extended his career had he let himself heal and taken himself out.

Lax bro'n hard.

Griffin's first concussion came in eighth grade while playing in a varsity lacrosse game. He takes us through this play along with one of the other major concussions he suffered while trying to make a name for himself with the Rutgers Football team. While at Rutgers, most of Griffin's opportunities to get noticed were on special teams. Specifically, playing two of the worst positions in not just football, but I would argue in all sports, being in the wedge and being the wedge buster. Luckily the football Gods have recently agreed that these positions suck and wedges are now illegal. Griffin discusses the concussion he suffered on kick off during a practice where he got "ear-holed" by a teammate. This concussion was also the beginning of the end for Griffin's football career. He was sidelined with post-concussion symptoms (PCS) for months after that hit. Ultimately, Griffin was advised by a neurologist to stop playing football.

Side Note: While on the topic of concussions, Griffin advises the best way to prevent kids from playing with concussions is having more eyes on the field, specifically with athletic trainers (ATC's). I couldn't agree more! ATC's have a unique relationship with the athletes and have a knack for noticing even small changes in behavior.

"The reason we start playing football is to impress our dad, but we continue playing football because of our friends."

Griffin went into detail about the mental and emotional struggles he faced while being forced to sit out of practice and games because of concussions. It broke his heart to be away from the team. Surprisingly, he said the tough part came when he started feeling better but he actually wasn't better. It is during this time he says that distractions come back in and the pressures to go out to the bars with friend can often ruin an athlete and their discipline. He began feeling depressed and desperately searched for another outlet because his sense of purpose had completely vanished. Griffin admitted that his teammates were annoyed by his distractions, but explained that without the adrenaline rush he got from running out onto the field, he found himself just waiting around for the next exciting thing to happen. The last thing he wanted to do was to lose his buddies and their respect for him.

Eventually Griffin started searching for new outlets outside of football. He has always had an entrepreneurial mind and was a witness to the work his father did with co-founding Autism Speaks. After interning on Wall Street, Griffin and a teammate came up with a crowd funding idea and he says that it saved him. He found a new purpose in business, a new team to work with and it provided an outlet for him to be the same bulldog he was on the field.

"Expand your horizons. that's just as hard, if not harder than running down the field and smacking someone in the face."

Griffin's advice to athletes for transitioning to a life after sports, which he feels might be the saddest realization you will ever come to is, "don’t give yourself excuses, its over, you have to accept it, you are bigger than that. Don’t try to hold on to something that’s over. You are an athlete and a champion. Go put that energy in something else and dominate it." In addition to finding the start up as a new outlet, Griffin has also enjoyed the addition of bujinkan ninjutsu in his life after football.

We finish the interview by discussing how to make the sport of football safer to play without changing the game. Griffen recommends all players who make unnecessarily dangerous penalties to ask themselves this:

"Why did you start playing the game? what made you fall in love with this game? What are you doing that made you stray away from that right now and how can you get back to it? Allow yourself to become that kid again. What inspired you, what made you fall in love with the game and are you being true to that person? Would your son or you look up to yourself?"

Where can you find Griffin Murray?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 70 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

69 : Owning It [Cystic Fibrosis] w/ Gunnar Esiason

Kevin Saum — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 15:38:19 +0000

Most athletes take the ability to breathe clearly for granted. I have a cough and sinus congestion as I write up this blog post and I was just thinking that I should probably give up my Soul Cycle seat for tomorrow morning. The discomfort from the cold largely stems from the fact that I cant take a full breath without "coughing up a lung." Now imagine feeling like that every day of your life because that is what it is like to live with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Gunnar Esiason is the featured guest on the podcast for Episode 69 and he was diagnosed with CF at 2 years old.

Gunnar is a recent graduate of Boston College, host of the "Making it Matter" podcast, and is an Advocate for the Boomer Esiason Foundation. At this point you've probably made the connection that Gunnar's Dad is former NFL quarterback, Boomer Esiason. In the beginning of our interview, Gunnar teaches us about Cystic Fibrosis, which is a terminal genetic illness that effects the respiratory system and digestive track. Gunnar says CF is not a cookie cutter disease, which means severity and symptoms can vary significantly. Like concussions, CF is an invisible illness because those affected by it more often than not look healthy.

Gunnar and his parents at the dedication ceremony for the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Morristown Medical Center.

Gunnar played two of the more violent sports growing up, which were ice hockey and football. During our conversation he discusses the countless obstacles athletes with CF face, especially in such physically demanding sports. For starters, breathing is difficult and is often compared to breathing through a straw. Gunnar talks about the struggle to keep up with his teammates on longer, more endurance focused activities. Another hurdle is bodyweight or lack there of. Gunnar says that he has been considered underweight by American standards his whole life and discusses the frustrations of trying to put on weight and muscle mass. Later on in the episode we talk about the recent addition of a feeding tube to his routine and how that has been a tremendous help in gaining and keeping on weight. Gunnar now tries to break down the stigma surrounding feeding tubes because it has been a game-changer for him. Despite these obstacles Gunnar never wanted to be treated any differently than his teammates nor did he want to use them as an excuse not to participate. He is grateful for his coaches and teammates knack for knowing when to push him and when to pull him back in both practice and games.

Pictured, Gunnar Slangin' it in HS. I asked Gunnar if he ever felt extra pressure playing football because of the success his father had on the field, but Gunnar says his dad had a good parent-coach relationship when it came to football and was more of a "hockey Dad."

Gunnar continues to play hockey and uses it as a "fun" version of cardio.

Exercise and sports participation is extremely important for people with CF because they help to clear the lungs better than any alternative treatment. Like many things associated with the illness, exercise and sports can also be a doubled-edged sword due to the increased risk of infection. Anyone who has smelled a hockey bag knows what I'm talking about. During the interview Gunnar takes us through some of the many setbacks he faced throughout his athletic career. One of the more serious setbacks came when he contracted mono during the summer between his junior and senior year of high school. He was sick for two months, lost his job as starting QB, and when he returned, it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t fit to play and still wasn’t well. Gunnar had to miss his entire senior football season to have a shot at playing hockey in the winter. This was devastating to him at the time, but by exuding positive energy and keeping his sights set on hockey, he ultimately found joy in seeing his friends succeed on the field.

Gunnar also talks about a couple other setbacks including coughing up blood during a football practice and two bouts with pneumonia in college, which have since hindered his athletic performance. He stresses the importance of having a good balance with athletic activity and rest because you can easily run yourself into the ground. I think this is a great message for all athletes, listen to your body and trust your gut! Gunnar also talked about the ways he protects his health such as wearing a surgical mask to prevent infections and avoiding situations with poor air quality (ex. second hand smoke).

Hockey is still a huge part of Gunnar's life as both an athlete and coach. Like most of my hockey guests, I asked about his opinion on fighting in hockey. Gunnar believes fighting and the physicality of the sport should remain, stating that fear is a part of the game. These are similar to my thoughts on the sport of football. However, Gunnar emphasizes the importance of hitting properly. He says that there is a lot of training for coaches especially in regard to concussions. During this episode Gunnar talks about how he doesn't agree with USA Hockey's checking ban until kids reach the age of 13 (bantam level). He feels it is important to teach proper ways to hit and take a hit at a young age and provides an example of an instance when he broke his wrist because he didn't know how to take a hit when he was young.

Being an english major at Boston College, the creation of the Gunnar Esiason blog and Making it Matter podcast was a natural transition. He decided to create this blog to use some of his experiences as an educational platform for people with cystic fibrosis, or their families, looking for some sort of guidance. Due to concerns of spreading infections, individuals with CF can not interact with one another, so the creation of the blog and podcast with his co-host Julia Rae serves as a platform for them to interact. Their hope is to prove to listeners that kids with CF can grow up to live long, fulfilling and normal lives. The slogan of the podcast is to "Own It." To Gunnar, this means people with CF need to share their stories with the world, become their own advocate and for the CF community so people can identify with them, because there are only about 30,000 patients in the world.

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Gunnar esiason?

Boomer Esiason Foundation | Blog | podcast | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Youtube

Download Episode 69 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

68 : Building a Body of Resilience w/ Angelo Todaro

Kevin Saum — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 01:49:48 +0000

In Episode 68 of the Heads 'N Tales podcast I interview Parabolic Performance & Rehab Performance Director, Angelo Todaro, CSCS, FMS, USAW. Rather than talking about persevering after injury, illness or another obstacle, Angelo and I discuss how to prevent injuries from happening in the first place. Obviously, it is impossible to quantify injuries prevented, but we discuss what goes into building a body of resilience. We use the elements involved in building a house as an analogy, which includes the foundation, support beams, electrical panel and the esthetic exterior.

Angelo is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA Certification Commission and a certified Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting.

Before joining Parabolic Performance and Rehab, Angelo owned and operated a very successful private training business in Bergen county New Jersey. He has held the position of strength and conditioning coach with the San Diego Padres in their minor league system and with a United States Tennis Association regional training center. He has also completed coaching internships with the University of Connecticut Strength and Conditioning department in Storrs, Connecticut, and at the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s Human Performance Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Building a Body of Resilience

Foundation: The foundation is the most important part of building a body of resilience, but it is also the least sexy. The foundation is comprised of general health markers that include, blood profile, organs, hormones, and immune system. Angelo recommends going to see your doctor to getting blood work and a general physical to find out if there are any glaring issues. In addition, having solid general movement patterns is a key principle to the athlete's foundation. Angelo and his team at Parabolic use the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) to assess their athletes in this domain. The FMS tests 7 movement patterns which include a deep squat, in-line lunge, hurdle step, pushup stability, shoulder stability, leg raise and rotary stability. The key to the test is that all movements can be performed without pain. Click the link above to learn more about the FMS. The team at Parabolic also utilize methods from the Postural Restoration Institute to address foundational issues. I have been doing some of these postural restoration exercises with Parabolic Physical Therapist, Dr. Danielle Clarke and have been seeing great results in my knee rehab. Some of the exercises involve inflating a balloon, which sounds bizarre, but I must say, I now feel the best I have felt since before my surgery. Overall, the foundation of a resilient body includes having good general health, good general movement and a good attitude.

Support Beams: The support beams include stability/mobility. These two requirements for both of these domains will vary by sport and position. During this portion of our conversation Angelo and have a sports specialization discussion. He mentions Urban Meyer's tastes for multi-sport athletes in his recruiting classes. Angelo also mentions the importance of prioritization when playing multiple sports and just playing for fun sometimes. This is something that I feel athletes get out of touch with as they get older.

Angleo with some of his NFL guys.

Electrical Panel: Angelo gives us a brief lesson on the role of nervous system adaptations.

Furnace: The furnace element of the resilient athlete is right in Angelo's wheelhouse and he dropped some serious knowledge bombs in this area. In this part of our conversation we discuss nutrition, recovery and supplements.

In regard to nutrition, Angelo teaches us about why food quality is most important, portion size and the roles proteins, fats and carbs play in fueling the body during workouts and recovery. Angelo and the team at Parabolic structure the nutrition program for their NFL combine athletes and use a company called Eat Clean Bro to ensure they are getting the highest quality of nutrition.

Food as fuel is obviously a major contributor to an athlete's recovery, but sleep quality is just as important. Angelo mentioned how important sleep is on multiple occasions throughout the interview. Specifically, he says athletes should aim to get at least 9-10 hours of sleep to properly recover. This is because you don't get stronger in the gym, you actually get weaker. You get stronger while you sleep because your body is recovering. Technology like Bioforce can provide insight into recovery based on an athletes heart rate variations.

Angelo is also very knowledgeable about supplements and goes in depth on powder protein, creatine, fish oil and its benefits in brain function, hormonal function and inflammation reduction. He highlights the importance of trying to find these supplements in their purest forms. One way to do this is by looking for the NSF Certification on the labels, which proves what is listed in the ingredients on the label actually correlates to contents of the container.

Esthetics: Looks can sometimes be deceiving. Just like a termite-ridden house, an athlete with a sinking foundation, deteriorating support beams and a smoking furnace is doomed. Angelo said that youth is wasted on the young because they never think anything will ever happen to them. To some degree, athletes need this mentality to perform without fear, but those who take a proactive approach to make the necessary repairs will reap the benefits of an extended athletic career. Injury is sometimes unavoidable so we end this topic of discussion with one on returning to training after an injury.

We finish the episode by listing the characteristics of Angelo's most successful athletes. Angelo notes their willingness to sacrifice a social life/"career" and their good relationships with failure as the two most notable traits.

During his free time, Angelo enjoys training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, going rock climbing, and participating in many other combat based and outdoor sports. He is also an avid fan of Mixed Martial Arts and rarely misses the opportunity to watch any MMA event in the area, professional and amateur alike. "Chef Ange" has recently started filming some of his recipes. His first two episodes can be seen below. Angelo and I plan on doing a nutrition specific episode to go more in depth on a complicated topic in the near future.

Chef Ange walks you through how to make a super simple and delicious dish. Oven roasted crispy chicken thighs with roasted asparagus, fingerling potatoes and a honey mustard sauce.

Asian Short Rib Tacos Green Cabbage Leaf Wrap / Miso Quinoa / Cucumber Salad / Kimchi / Sriracha Yogurt Sauce ASIAN SHORT RIB 2 lb Beef Short Ribs 1 TSP Chinese 5 Spice Powder 1 TSP Brown Sugar 1 TSP Kosher Salt 2 In Chuck Ginger (Grated) 7-10 Garlic Cloves (Chopped) 1 Onion (Chopped) 1 Shallot (Chopped) 5-6 Scallions (Whites Only Chopped).

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Angelo?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | Youtube

Download Episode 68 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

67 : Start'em or Sit'em w/ Allan Parsells, ATC

Kevin Saum — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 04:57:08 +0000

For those of you who don't know, March is National Athletic Training month. My high school's athletic trainer saved my life back in 2007 when she noticed a right-sided gaze, indicating a brain bleed, while I was suffering from second impact syndrome (it's a long story, but you can find the deets in episode 1). To show my appreciation for athletic trainers, episode 67 highlights the incredible work athletic trainers do day in and day out to protect athletes. This week's interview is with Allan Parsells, head athletic trainer at Oratory Prep School, which is an all boys catholic school in Summit, NJ. The focus of our discussion centers around the difficult decision athletic trainers face on a daily basis, which is when to start and when to sit an injured athlete. Where is the line drawn?

Allan Parsells, MS, LAT, ATC, ITAT earned a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Scranton in 2008 before earning a Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training and a Master's degree in Clinical Athletic Training from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (The Princeton of the Poconos) in 2010. Allan has been the Head Athletic Trainer at Oratory Prep since August of 2013. Prior to his time at Oratory, he was employed at The College of New Jersey (Ewing, New Jersey) and Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, New Jersey) as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. Allan is co-owner of Premier Sports Medicine of New Jersey, LLC, which provides athletic trainers to youth sports organizations, camps, clinics, showcases, and schools. In addition, Premier Sports Medicine of New Jersey is a Licensed Training Provider for the American Red Cross, a sub-distributor of Philips Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and AED supplies, and provider of ImPACT Baseline and Post-Injury Concussion Testing. Allan serves his profession as the Public Relations Chairman of the Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ). He has been in this role since February 2013 and has received 3 National Athletic Trainers' Association Public Relations awards during his tenure. In addition to being a certified and licensed athletic trainer, Allan is also a certified instructor for the American Red Cross and also holds the ImPACT Trained Athletic Trainer (ITAT) certification. Allan is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and is an avid New York Mets fan (Tebow!). He resides in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey with his wife, Katie and two children Aidan and Norah.

A list of topics we discuss can be found below:

Can outsourced athletic trainers at schools be as effective as a school's full-time athletic trainer schools? Which is better?
- Communication with guidance counselors, teachers and coaches is key for all athletic trainers.
- Lacking communication with these parties? Allan tells us how to build those relationship if you don’t already have them.
  - Provide information and resources.
IS your school an NATA Safe Sports School? Oratory Prep is! Allan teaches us about the necessary requirements to earn this recognition. More information can be found in the link above.
Allan tells us what the difference between hurt and injured means to him.
How to building trust with athletes to improve the likelihood of injury reporting.
- Allan uses rehab goals, and functional testing.

"Be great at the things that take no talent".

Why there is always something you can be doing to be getting better.
- Allan is a strong believer in injured athletes staying involved with their team to avoid feelings of isolation.
How to fight the culture of toughness at an all boys school.
Jordy Nelson Ribs Episode reference.
- Implications reviewing penalties would have on the game of football.
- Facebook video (see below) one of my friends posted, comment with your thoughts on the hit.

Social media’s impact on his job.
- The Web MD effect.
- Why Allan has a no phone policy in training room.
- Athletes fear of missing out.
Distinguishing Athletic Trainers from Personal Trainers
Why athletes tend to look at him in a different way than they do their teacher, coach etc. and where he draws the line.
Faith's role in injury recovery at a catholic school.
Exemplary athlete attitudes example of on of his basketball athletes who overcame and ACL injury only to suffer a meniscal tare upon his return and why this kid's attitude is contagious.
How parent interactions effect his job.
New Jersey 2017 pitch count rule.
What athletes should be doing to stay healthy.
- Lower extremity stretching protocol (see below)
- Playing multiple sports, which will also make you a better athlete.

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Allan Parsells?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Where Can you learn more about ATSNJ?

Website | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

WHERE CAN YOU Learn More about Premier Sports Medicine?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER |

aparsells@premiersportsmedicine.net

Download Episode 67 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

66 : Going From Preparing For Death To Preparing For National Title, Kolton Kersten

Kevin Saum — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 21:34:09 +0000

Kolton Kersten was a two-time All American wrestler in the 197 lb weight class at Midland University in Fremont Nebraska, but no match he'd ever won could have prepared him for his battle with bacterial meningitis, which he came down with at the end of his junior season.

It all started after contracting mono (for a second time) while completing his student teaching requirements at a local elementary school. At this point in time, Kolton was in-season, ranked #2 in the nation and had hopes of winning a national title in the 2012-2013 season, so you could imagine he wasn't going to let this illness get in his way. Let's be honest, most athletes would share that same mentality... So Kolton continued to push his body to the limits in training and practice. During this time he was also cutting weight, which sometimes meant working out 3 times in a day. In our discussion, Kolton talks about how taxing the weight cutting process is on your body, especially while "recovering" from mono. Kolton ended up suffering with the typical mono symptoms for close to a month before he was officially diagnosed, relying heavily on coffee to get him through each practice.

One day while training with his brother, Kolton told him he didn’t think he would get through this particular workout (could this be gut instinct speaking?). He recalls his brother telling him to "tough it out" and during our interview, he says they both embraced that mentality. This is not an uncommon mindset in athletes, but it can often be a double-edged sword. It was in my case and it turned out to be one for Kolton as well. After this workout, he then began to feel much worse than he had been previously and thought there might be something seriously wrong. Kolton still had weight to lose so he ran on the treadmill, but said he began hallucinating. While driving back from the gym Kolton decided he needed to seek medical attention.

The doctor diagnosed him with mono and sent him home with Tylenol. Kolton then proceeded to vomit all throughout that night and his symptoms kept getting worse. In the morning, Kolton was basically paralyzed with purple rashes all over his body (see below) and one of his roommates then rushed him to the hospital. Kolton was eventually diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, which usually kills you in 24 hours. He was given a 10% chance to live and was put in a coma. Kolton's family and team were told to prepare for his death. During our interview Kolton describes the intense and unescapable pain associated with bacterial meningitis and how at times he wished it would all just end.

Kolton explained that people who contract meningitis generally have compromised immune systems due to either illness or unhealthy lifestyles. The combination of intense training, cutting weight, stress from student teaching and contracting mono turned out to be the perfect storm for Kolton to breathe in the meningitis particles excreted by a carrier (explained HERE) and ultimately contract the deadly disease.

It was a miracle that Kolton survived his fight with meningitis. During our interview he goes into detail about the life-saving and limb-saving procedures he underwent. He also discusses the many setbacks he experienced, including his bout with sepsis, which left him with gaping holes in his arms. Unsure if he would live or be able to keep his limbs, doctors told Kolton he would never be able to wrestle again. Kolton gives credit to an experimental oxygen chamber procedure for saving his limbs. Side note: Based on this interview, previous interviews and my own story, if you are a health professional, please never tell an athlete they will never be able to get back to their sport again while they are at the lowest point of their lives. I believe there is something to be said about hope and what it can do in an athletes' recovery. That being said, Kolton's coach still had hope once Kolton beat death.

"I don't care what these doctors are telling you, I recruited you because you're tough and I want you to be a national champ. You're still alive, we still have a job to finish. I don't care how long it takes to get back on that wrestling mat, we are going to make one last run to be a national champ and we are going to get the job done."

Kolton and Coach Vest

After being in the hospital for two weeks, Kolton lost 65 pounds. He remembers feeling devastated after the first time he looked in the mirror and saw gaping holes in his arms instead of seeing the muscle that he worked so hard to gain. He remembers thinking to himself that no girls were ever going to like him again looking like this. I remember having similar feelings when I looked in the mirror for the first time after leaving the hospital. About 20 minutes after seeing himself in this condition, Kolton's coach, Beau Vest (pictured above) came in his room and said "I don't care what these doctors are telling you, I recruited you because you're tough and I want you to be a national champ. You're still alive, we still have a job to finish. I don't care how long it takes to get back on that wrestling mat, we are going to make one last run to be a national champ and we are going to get the job done." This is the hope and encouragement that every athlete deserves at their lowest moment!

From that point on, Kolton was focused on getting back on the mat, but it took some time to regain the strength and agility he had that made him an All American. During our interview, Kolton takes us through the rehab process which actually started with Theraband exercises in the hospital and eventually just a 5 lb dumbell once he got home. It took him only three weeks to get out of the hospital when doctors told him he'd be there for three months! Kolton talked about how he regained his strength back pretty quickly, but his agility proved to be more difficult to regain. Because of this, Kolton went back to school part time during the 2013-2014 season and helped out the coaching staff while re-learning how to wrestle again. Kolton made a miraculous comeback in the 2014-2015 season where he finished 3rd in the nation and earned his 100th career win. Pretty amazing for anyone, let alone a guy who was read his last rites not once, but twice.

Kolton discusses the closure he felt with his wrestling career because of the success he achieved on the mat in the 2014-2015 season. During his transition to life after sports he has found pleasure in continuing to workout (the giant biceps are way more distracting than the scars, see above); he additionally found pleasures in outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. Kolton also had a calling back to wrestling, but this time as a coach. Believe it or not, in his first coaching gig out of college he had the opportunity to coach another meningitis survivor, Preston Hoebelheinrich. Unlike Kolton, Preston lost both of his lower legs to the disease. See video below. Kolton is now a Graduate Assistant at Midland University, his alma mater, once again under head coach Beau Vest.

Kolton never missed a practice in his whole life and embraced the mentality that "you better be dying if you're going to miss practice." This is why Kolton continued to push himself when his body was telling him to stop. There is something to be said about gut instinct and my hope is that after listening to this episode, athletes will pay more attention to what their body's are telling them. If I had sat out for my headache, I could have fulfilled my dreams of playing college football. However, I didn't listen to my body and now I have to sit out for the rest of my life. Maybe if Kolton rested while recovering from mono, he never would have contracted meningitis. We will never know, but it's great to see Kolton sharing his inspiring story to instill hope in other athletes that they can beat the odds too.

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Kolton Kersten?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 66 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

65 : Redefining "Tough" One Goal At A Time w/ The Headway Foundation's Sarah Renberg

Kevin Saum — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Sarah Renberg is an 18 year old ice hockey player from the Washington DC area. Sarah has been battling post-concussion syndrome since 2014 after sustaining multiple concussions while playing for the Washington Pride Junior Women's Hockey Club.

Concussion #1 occurred on Jan. 31, 2014. Sarah was hit hard from behind and went headfirst into the boards. She was slow to get up but finished the game and played another before taking another awkward hit that alerted one of her fellow teammates to encourage to sit out. This injury required close to 6 months of rehab for vision and vestibular problems before she was ready to play at an elite level again.

Concussion #2 came only 97 days after becoming symptom free after the first head injury. This time, Sarah took a hit from an opponent that caused her to hit her head on the ice in a whip-lash effect. This second concussion caused Sarah's occipital nerve to become inflamed and she also injured the ligaments in her neck. In addition, she developed postural orthostatic trachycardia syndrome along with the more common vision and vestibular struggles. She has been in intensive rehab since December 2014 and has traveled extensively seeking various treatments. During our conversation we discuss the treatment options that have been most effective during her recovery. We also talk about helpful suggestions for student athletes who need to complete academic requirements. Specifically, Sarah talks about the use of 20 minute time intervals to ensure proper rest time and the utilization of audio books (it wasn't and accident that I chose podcasts as the primary platform for Heads 'N Tales).

Most recently, Sarah graduated from high school in May of 2016 and was accepted into the University of Michigan's honors college but chose to put off her freshman year to focus on her health. During our discussion we talk about the common struggle in searching for an identity outside the sport she dedicated so much of her life to. Sarah has found comfort in her recovery and time away from hockey through working on art projects (gallery above) and her advocacy work with The Headway Foundation.

The Headway Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aims to promote a safer sports culture, provide resources for brain-injured patients, and enhance concussion evaluation protocols and accessibility. Our ideas on the source of the concussion issue in sports are directly aligned. They have a few campaigns that aim to combat the culture of toughness in sports and hockey specifically (see below).

What is New Tough ?

New Tough is a campaign that challenges athletes to handle concussions properly. As athletes, we understand the traditional toughness required for competition; be it coming back from a bad play, finishing a difficult workout or diving to block a shot, toughness is considered to be a mark of greatness. Because of this, the big hits are often glorified and playing through injury is applauded.

This mentality poses a problem when it comes to concussions. In 2013, the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council concluded that the culture of sports negatively influences concussion reporting and that athletes, coaches and parents do not fully acknowledge the risks of playing while injured (31).

We’re here to change that by introducing a new type of toughness.

It is the toughness to go against your instinct as an athlete and put your brain-health first.
It is the strength to report concussion symptoms, and it is the patience to complete recovery before returning to the game you love.
It is the courage to speak up for brain-injured teammates and offer support while they heal.
And it is the integrity to play the game within the rules by avoiding illegal hits to the head or neck, no matter how high the stakes or emotions.

The video below paints the picture of what New Tough embodies:

Athletes are encouraged to make the New Tough Pact which requires the following promises:

Report possible concussion symptoms and stay patient during recovery.
Encourage brain-injured teammates to seek help and offer support while they heal.
Play the game within its rules. Avoid illegal hits from behind, to the head and neck.

After making the pact, athletes or teams receive New Tough helmet stickers, which serve as a constant reminders to play it safe. Coming from a football equipment background, I love this idea!

During the weekend of February 3-4 2017, The Headway Foundation collaborated with the Eastern College Athletic Conference on creating a concussion awareness weekend. On this weekend fans pledged dollar amounts for each goal scored by their favorite team through the Goals Challenge Fund Raiser. Sarah and I discuss how this initiative was received by players teams and coaches around the conference.

The Headway Foundation is powered by athletes who have been there and done that when it comes to post-concussion syndrome (PCS). If you are looking for more information on concussion or PCS, the team at The Headway Foundation have worked tirelessly to provide athletes, parents and coaches with the most up to date information on the injury and they have even translated them into layman's terms for your conveience. Click HERE for PCS knowledge bombs!

WHERE CAN YOU find/support the headway foundation?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Sarah Renberg?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | Facebook

Download Episode 65 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

64 : A Champion Knows When to Rest w/ Natalie Anderson

Kevin Saum — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Natalie Anderson is best known for being the season 29 champion of the CBS reality show, Survivor. However, fans of the show might be surprised to know that the struggles and stresses of being stranded on a deserted island paled in comparison to the turmoil Natalie faced while battling post-concussion syndrome (PCS) after being named soul survivor in San Juan Del Sur.

While growing up in Sri Lanka during the Sri Lankan Civil War with her twin sister Nadiya (who also competed on Survivor), Natalie was always into playing sports. Specifically, Natalie swam, played rugby and threw the javelin in high school, but focused on rugby while studying at Fordham University in the Bronx, NY. This is where Natalie suffered her first diagnosed concussion (2007), which left her feeling hazy, sluggish and with headaches. Rugby was a club sport at Fordham and there were no athletic trainers covering their games, so there was no return to play protocol followed, but her symptoms subsided after about a week. It looks like they could have used insights from my man Dr. Robert Huggins at the Korey Stringer Institute (Episode 41) who was instrumental in implementing athletic training coverage for club sports at Sacred Heart University and UCONN. During our conversation we also talk about her recovery from an ACL injury she sustained while playing rugby during her senior season. This is where her interest in physical therapy and athletic training was sparked.

While taking pre-requisites for graduate school in 2013, Natalie suffered concussion #2 when she closed the trunk of a car, forgetting there was a bike rack attached to it. This concussion left her with blurred vision, headaches, sensitivity to light and sound all of which lingered for close to a month. After this concussion, Natalie grew concerned over her future brain health, especially in regard to her future academic goals. Before this concussion, Natalie and her sister Nadiya competed on their first reality show together, which was the 21st season of The Amazing Race, after a friend submitted a video application in for them. They also competed in the 24th season All-Stars edition of the show. School was put on hold while filming these shows so when the decision was finally made to attend Seton Hall University and earn a masters degree in athletic training, the third and most recent concussion was that much more devastating.

Natalie (Left), Twin Sister Nadiya (Right).

Natalie utilized CrossFit training while preparing for competing on Survivor. During our interview, she gives partial credit to CrossFit and to her training partner, Sheila Barden (CrossFit Games Competitor) for her success on the show. However, her post-survivor training ultimately led to concussion #3 while standing up into a racked barbell after adjusting her knee sleeve. To make matters worse, she was in grad school at this time and was actually struck in the head by a soccer ball while taping an athletes ankle during her first clinical emersion at a local high school. This was all while still symptomatic from the training accident. Natalie is a survivor through and through and credits a lot of her success to her ability to push and persevere. Unfortunately, the symptoms from these two concussions eventually became too much to handle, even with assistance from disability services at school (any athlete struggling with PCS should seek out this type of help from their school, it is your right). Natalie teaches us how to utilize the support of disability services at schools in this episode. After receiving a text from her classmate and good friend, Pete saying "A Champion Knows When To Rest," Natalie decided to take a medical leave from school, but plans on re-enrolling this fall now that she is feeling better.

Natalie about to hit some front squats!

Like many athletes, the survivor mentality can work to both your advantage and demise at times. Sometimes you need to know when to wave the white flag and take care of yourself. Most of us don't have that voice in our head's, but sometimes we need a friend to be that voice. Natalie found great help and symptom relief from utilizing the services from our Episode 14 guest, Dr. Mike Teytelbaum, who is a chiropractic neurologist. I encourage you to listen to this episode if you struggle with PCS. She also found hope emotionally through listening to many of the concussion related interviews on this podcast. Search "concussion" on the home page to find all episodes pertaining to concussions.

Some other topics we cover include :

Her winning strategy going into Survivor
The weirdest thing she ate on survivor
What she did with her winnings
- Donation to her mother's non-profit
  - Bridge 2 Peace
    - Mission: To empower the marginalized and under -privileged through Peace Education and Vocational Training based on Montessori principles.
Background on the Sri Lankan Civil War
- Her parent's Romeo and Juliet story
How the ketogenic diet benefited her PCS symptoms

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW NATALIE ANDERSON?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | Twitter

Download Episode 64 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

63 : When A Crash Turns Your World Upside Down w/ Pro Rugby Player, Matt Duckworth

Kevin Saum — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 21:13:37 +0000

Matt Duckworth is a former professional Rugby player from England. Matt played for the Castleford Tigers Rugby Club in Yorkshire England, but his career was derailed by an injury sustained off the field. While driving back from spending time with friends on a week off from training with the Castleford Tigers, Matt's car was struck in the side by another vehicle on the M6 Toll Road. The accident resulted in Matt breaking his C3, C4 and C& vertebrae in his neck. The collision forced Matt's car to roll over on it's side, and he found himself stuck in his seatbelt. His passenger and best friend, James "Peg" came out of the crash relatively unscathed and eventually helped Matt out of the car when he began to experience severe neck pain. After this, Matt was transported by helicopter to the hospital. Although Matt was lucky enough the avoid paralysis, he suffered a stroke while recovering in the hospital. Matt developed hematoma's in his brain after the crash, which ultimately led to the stroke (this part was unfortunately not discussed in the interview). The stroke effected Matt's ability to walk and balance, which are two essential attributes that all rugby players rely on.

This is what Matt's car looked like after the crash. Someone was definintely looking out for him up there...

Matt was 19 years old at the time of the crash and was at the peak of his physical athleticism. In professional sports, all the athletes get paid, but it isn't until they reach negotiations for their second contract that they get "paid-paid." Just before the crash, Matt was getting ready to sign a new contract which would have led to an increase in his salary. This only added fuel to the fire that had ignited with the onset of depression and attributes of bi-polar after realizing how much he had lost due to his injuries.

Doctors advised Matt in the hospital that he would never play rugby again, but he always maintained the thought he would come back. He received a tremendous amount of support from his club, teammates, coaches and fans, which helped raise his spirits throughout the recovery process. It wasn't until making his way back into the gym that Matt realized his situation was more serious than he originally thought. He had difficulty even lifting a 15 pound dumbbell. The Castleford Tigers continued to pay Matt throughout his recovery and provided physiotherapy which extended Matt's rugby career an additional two years.

Matt found CrossFit as a great outlet after his rugby career ended. I recommend any athlete struggling in their transition to life after sports to give CrossFit a try, but Matt and I both emphasize the importance of leaving your ego at the door before you walk in the gym. Matt and I met at CrossFit Motown in Morristown, NJ.

After Matt's Rugby career, he moved to the United States and began working for USA Sports Group, which is a company that offers sports programs for kids. Matt relishes in the opportunity to be a positive influence in his athletes lives and encourages all coaches to care about not just the athletes, but the whole person outside of their sport. During our discussion Matt and I discuss the differences between sports culture in the U.S. and in England. What I found interesting is that Matt feels the U.S. sports culture focuses too much on safety and what can go wrong instead of just letting the kids play. I'm sure this podcast is a contributor to that cultural difference, but my main goal is the minimize the risk to maximize the fun.

We also discussed some of the interesting characteristics of Rugby that could potentially benefit the game of American football. Specifically the idea of Rugby "Sevens" (explained in the video above) intrigued me because of this NPR article Big Rule Changes Could Make Youth Football Games A Whole Lot Smaller, which was posted by my friends at Mind of The Athlete. In rugby sevens, each side as 7 players on the field instead of 13 for rugby league rules and 15 in rugby union rules (the differences between rugby league and rugby union are explained in the video below). Rugby league, which Matt played, is more similar to American football. The article highlights USA Football's (The governing body of American football) proposal of playing with anywhere from 6-9 players per side instead of the traditional 11. Less, players on the field, more room to avoid collisions, sound good to me! However, they also propose shorter fields in this format, which in my opinion defeats the purpose of reducing the number of players on the field (future podcast episode to come on this topic).

I am super stoked about the idea of the rugby sevens potential to influence the game of American football. However, it made me think that it may cause a barrier to entry for some of the bigger fellas out there who could use the exercise and maybe jumpstart an active lifestyle. But where do you draw the line? This topic also came up in our conversation because tackling has recently been banned in schools for rugby matches. Matt does not think this is good for safety or for the sport of rugby. He feels if you take tackling out of the sport, it is no longer rugby, and he is right. You can't take hitting out of football because then it wouldn't be football anymore. However, I still believe attacking the macho culture of these sports is the best plan of attack to minimize both short-term and long-term risk for athletes. There are so many things I wished I asked Matt looking back. We will have to do a follow up interview in the near future!

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW MATT DUCKWORTH?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 63 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

62 : Sidelined After a Baker's Doz. of Concussions, Former UCONN QB, Casey Cochran

Kevin Saum — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Casey Cochran was a record setting quarterback and Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Connecticut before taking his talents to the University of Connecticut. Casey was a very gifted athlete who seemed to have it all going for him. However, concussions and the ensuing bouts of depression eventually became too much. Casey credits his athletic success to sacrifice, specifically in regard to time. Sacrifice is an interesting word in the sport of football because it is not just your time that you are expected to sacrifice, it's also your body. But at what cost?

I first read about Casey's story in his Players Tribune article titled "13 Concussions" and I knew right away that I needed to get this guy on the podcast. I recommend giving this article a read after listening to Episode 62, because it gives an in-depth description of the final concussion that forced him to step away from football. Also, if you like this podcast, I recommend reading more articles from The Players Tribune because they provide similar insights.

It was no accident that Casey reached such an elite level of college football, because his Dad is a very successful high school coach in the state of Connecticut. During our conversation we discuss the pressures of playing for your Dad and how it was difficult at times to separate the coach from the Dad. At the end of the episode, Casey opens up about his father's thoughts on choosing to retire from the game that was, and is, such a huge part of both their live's. After the previous two podcast episodes (60, 61), it should not be a surprise that we also talk about the pressures to play hurt and hide injuries like concussions in a culture of toughness.

The first concussion Casey suffered happened when he was just 11 years old. He was playing nose guard back in those days and made a huge hit on the running back that knocked both of them on their back's after they collided heads. Casey felt poor physically after the hit, but was also left feeling uneasy about the injury after this hit was celebrated by his teammates and coaches while watching film the following day. Then in eighth grade, he suffered two more concussions and was forced to sit out the rest of the season. During this time Casey did a science project on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and became concerned for his long-term health. However, this concern didn't stop him from having a very successful high school career. While in high school, Casey suffered 1 concussion freshman year, 1 sophomore year, 3 junior year, 1 senior year and none were diagnosed. At multiple points throughout the interview, Casey also goes in depth on what it is like to battle depression and ways to find help. In addition to being a stud on the football field, Casey was also a scholar in the classroom, but his grades suffered due to the concussions. Casey had multiple opportunities to play football in the IVY League, but listen in to learn why he ultimately chose to play at UCONN.

It has been a little over two years since Casey stepped away from the game he dedicated most of his life to. Casey describes this decision as being one of the scariest he has ever made and says he only recently established some level of normalcy in his life. Most of all, Casey misses the camaraderie with his teammates, but has found new purpose in his advocacy work and learning to play the guitar. Casey has some great tips on transitioning to life after sports in our conversation. This transition is a difficult and inevitable one for all athletes. Know that you are not alone and that your feelings are normal. If you're a struggling athlete in transition, this is a must-listen!

Some additional topics we covered include:

Advice to football players on how to protect their brain’s and body’s
Why football is hard for Casey to watch now
Thoughts on the NFL
- No guaranteed money and are incentivized to play injured
The benefits of playing baseball as a kid (The guy can obviously sling it)
- Pitched
- Caught
- 3rd Base
Casey's definition of toughness (He would get along with Bill Anthes from Episode 54)
Casey's book in the works

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW CASEY COCHRAN?

caseycochran12@gmail.com | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 62 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

61 : What The French Toast?! Reactions from Episode 60

Kevin Saum — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 06:11:15 +0000

If only cleaning up dirty hits were as easy as chewing some Orbit gum...

Last week in Episode 60, I discussed a hit by New York Giants veteran defensive back, Leon Hall on Green Bay Packers wide receiver, Jordy Nelson. Nelson was diagnosed with fractured ribs as a result of the hit. I described this hit as being "dirty" and I then when on to talk about how the NFL missed an opportunity to change the self sacrificial culture that exists in football and protect future players. In both criticizing and defending Leon Hall's actions on the field, I discussed an article written in 2009 by Malcolm Gladwell titled, How Different are Football and Dog Fighting? I highly suggest reading/listening to Episode 60 and watching the video of the hit below before continuing with this article/episode.

I always want to hear listener's feedback on each episode, but I was particularly interested in what people had to say about this hit. I never want to come off as being anti-football because frankly, I love football. Some of my best memories come from playing football as a kid and I want every kid to have the opportunity to play the game, but in the safest possible way. In my humble opinion, the best way to do that is by changing the culture. After posting Episode 60, I proceeded to tag as many Facebook friends as possible, who I thought might have an opinion on the subject. Being from NJ, I received responses from Giants fans, friends I grew up playing football with, football Dads, former youth football coaches, current high school coaches, a former division 1 college football equipment manager and even one New York Giants beat writer. I screen shotted all of the comments and some trends definitely came up, which I discuss in length in Episode 61.

Define Dirty...

From most of the comments, the definition of 'dirty' was always in question. What makes a hit dirty or clean? Most consider a hit to be dirty if the player's intention was to injure an opponent on a particular play. Unfortunately, there is no way to go into someone's head and replay what they were thinking at the moment of impact. So by this definition, it is nearly impossible to ever call any hit 'dirty.' However, I feel a more appropriate description of the type of hit that we would all like to see removed from the game are UNNECESSARY & AVOIDABLE hits on defenseless players. My definition of an unnecessary hit would expand the current unnecessary roughness rules to include any hit at or below the knees, any hit to the head or neck, and all hits where contact is initiated with the helmet or facemask on defenseless receivers.

The rules listed below can be found in the PLAYER CONDUCT section of the NFL Rulebook.

ARTICLE 6. UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS. One of the descriptors of the penalty is "using any part of a player’s helmet or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily."

ARTICLE 7. PLAYERS IN A DEFENSELESS POSTURE. It is a foul if a player initiates unnecessary contact against a player who is in a defenseless posture. (a) Players in a defenseless posture are: (1) A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass (passing posture). (2) A receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner. If the player is capable of avoiding or warding off the impending contact of an opponent, he is no longer a defenseless player.

As someone who played the game for 10 years and spent at least 4 years working in the game, I whole heartedly believe that defenders can just as easily put their heads to the side of a defenseless receivers body as they can ram their facemask or helmet into their body's. This is where the AVOIDABLE part of my definition comes into play. I felt that the hit on Jordy Nelson was easily avoidable because he was not capable of warding off impending contact. Players shouldn't get away with dangerous hits just because they chose not to go helmet to helmet. When it comes to defenseless receivers, there is a choice.

It was wrong of me to insinuate that Leon Hall had malice in his intentions going into that hit, but I still think it was Unnecessary & Avoidable.

Fear Factor...

I fully understand that fear and intimidation is a major part of the game of football. I also feel this is one of the great lessons football teaches. It's uncomfortable to jump up and catch a ball fully knowing you are about to get crushed by a linebacker, just like it is uncomfortable to stand in front of a hundred people and present a speech. If you are comfortable, you're not growing and football teaches you to embrace discomfort. There is a reason why the term "alligator arms" exists, because the defense never wants the receivers to feel too comfortable out there. The short reach comes from the fear in the back of the receiver's head, which is saying "forget the ball, save yourself!" I still think you can send this message without sticking your facemask or helmet into a receivers rules because in these 'alligator arms' situations, the receivers are almost always defenseless. Use your shoulder, thats why you wear shoulder pads.

Technique...

Personally, I was never taught to use my head as a point of contact at any level of play. We were always taught to "bite the ball", which requires you to keep your head up. We were however taught to get our heads across when making tackles from perpendicular angles, which essentially uses your head as an extra limb. According to the comments (above) made by LF Vanorski, who is a high school football coach, that is no longer the case. I can remember one tackle I made in particular when I got my head across to make a form tackle and definitely cleared out the cobwebs in the process. To be honest, getting your head across in those situations is the most effective way to ensure the ball carrier doesn't break your tackle, but at what cost? These techniques are taught to maximize safety, especially when it comes to protecting the head and neck.

Although I was taught the proper safe tackling techniques for the time period by my coaches, I definitely witnessed some that made me scratch my head while working in college and professional football. Specifically blitz pick-up techniques that used, what I would consider the crown of the helmet, as a point of contact. Even the hits in practice during these drills would make me cringe.. Yes, we're talking about practice! Effective in preventing sacks, yes? Safe, definitely not...

The Film Never Lies...

Coach Vanorski provided a few examples of what a dirty hit was to him. The first video is of Chuck Cecil making two vicious hits. The first hit I would consider legal because the ball carrier is not defenseless, but the second hit on the very next play is undoubtedly a hit on a defenseless receiver. Cecil was known as one of the hardest hitting players of his time and ironically or not so ironically was forced to retire due to concussions. Thus, proving my point that leading with your head puts the hit initiator at risk as much if not more than the player receiving the blow.

I guess it was the Packers who played dirty back in the day because in the second video an exaggerated late hit by Charles Martin sidelines Bears' quarterback Jim McMahon. These type of hits are easy to call dirty and malice can be safely assumed. Hits like Leon Hall's on Jordy Nelson... not so easy to assume.

Chuck Cecil lays out Meggett by mattinsgs

Where Is The Line Drawn...?

I understand that without hitting, football wouldn't be football. Nor is that is my goal by pointing out the Hall-Nelson hit. There is a fine line for referees to distinguish between what is a penalty and what is just an inherent risk in playing the game. To me, the rules seem pretty defined when looking at the rulebook excerpts written earlier in this article, but the enforcement of these rules seems to bit hit or miss (no pun intended). Maybe we need a referee in the booth who can watch replays in slow motion to ensure proper rule enforcement? Does that cross the line? I don't know, but in my opinion, calls are being missed and inconsistently made. What message is that sending current and future NFLers?

Looks Can Be Deceiving...

My long-time friend James Kratch is the NJ.com beat writer for the New York Giants and personally interacts with Leon Hall on a daily basis. James pointed out they he did not believe Leon meant to hurt Jordy and I have to take his word for it. It was wrong of me to say there was malice in Hall's actions. My Dad always told me that when you assume it makes an ASS out of U and ME and you would think I would have learned by now.

You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks...

Much like how I compared Malcolm Gladwell's dog fighting article to the Hall hit on Jordy, the fact that you can't teach an old dog new tricks came up in a comment by one of my high school co-captains. Honestly you can't even blame the guy, but how do you teach a dog to not pee on the carpet? You catch them in the act, pick their little ass up and bring them outside and reward them for doing a good job when they do it the right way. Throw a flag, push them back 15 yards and reward them by not taking any of their paycheck when they make hits with their shoulder...?

Inherent Risk...

What other industry has a 100% injury rate? At this point, football players definitely know what they are getting themselves into. However, I don't think that means that we can't look to other industries to make the game safer and to hold the NFL accountable to all the policies and procedures put in place to keep players safe. I wonder what OSHA would have to say about the hit on Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley just hours after the hit that ended Jordy's night (see below). This is a topic I researched for my capstone project while earning my masters degree at Georgetown. If this topic interests you there is some more reading for you below, but I will end this discussion here for this article.

Shit happens....

As mentioned earlier in the post, the viewers have the advantage of hindsight and the ability to review each play in slow motion. Unfortunately, that isn't how the players on the field experience things and shit happens sometimes. I still think the idea of referees in the booth to review calls may help the consistency of the penalty calling. I wonder how much that would affect the pace of play...?

Priorities...

When players get fined for how they wear their uniforms, the design of their cleats, the air pressure in the balls and walkie talkies, it makes you wonder why penalties that ensure safety are not enforced. To me, that should be the # 1 priority.

But I Thought Only Kings Wore Crowns...

A discussion of what exactly is the 'crown' of the helmet came up in the comments. I am still confused by this and from what I gather, this is more geared toward running backs lowering their head's. The crown of the helmet is essentially the top of the helmet. I feel like most players don't hit with this part of the helmet anyway, most likely because that would basically be a suicide mission. However, this shouldn't matter in regard to calling an unecessary roughness penalty on the Hall hit because by definition it is any contact made by "using any part of a player’s helmet or facemask to butt, spear, or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily."

By The Books...

Why write rules if they don't get enforced? The tail end of comments I received on the post were mostly in agreement that the hit on Jordy Nelson was 'dirty' or as I have newly defined it 'unnecessary & avoidable.' One thing I would like to note is two of the comments made below by current high school football coach and one of my former teammates Kevin Karcich. First Kevin points out that most refs in high school only call hits in instances of helmet to helmet contact, which is great for avoiding head injuries, but as mentioned multiple time throughout this post, the rule is written much broader than that. Just like an umpire is in control of the strike zone in baseball, referees hold the power to legislate acceptable vs. unacceptable hits.

I Immediately Regret This Decision...

As seen below, Kevin and the rest of the coaches at my high school make it a point to educate the players when they make dangerous hits by lowering their heads because they are putting their own personal health at risk by doing so. Putting your head down to make a hit will be a decision that you immediately regret, just ask Ron Burgundy. People do get it! This comment makes me feel like the culture of football is actually headed in the right direction.

I want to thank all of my friends who participated in this discussion because without your comments episode 61 would not have been possible. All in all, I hope to see hits like the Hall-Nelson hit draw penalties in the future. I truly believe it is in the best interest of the players and the game.

Download Episode 61 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

60 : Clean or Dirty? The Hit That Made Jordy's Ribs Say "Oh Lordy"

Kevin Saum — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 12:00:00 +0000

Last Sunday, the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants squared off on wild card weekend. The Packers were victorious, but did not come out unscathed. Jordy Nelson, who leads the Packers with 97 catches for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns, broke his ribs on a controversial hit made by Giants defensive back, Leon Hall. As you can see in the picture above and the video below, Hall lowered the crown of his helmet into Nelson's body in an attempt to break up a pass.

What are your thoughts on this hit? Clean or dirty? Comment below!

Look carefully at Leon Hall after contact... Looks a little woozy to me... wouldn't be surprised if he game himself a concussion.

The reason I dedicated an entire episode to this hit and described it as "bush league" is because of how unnecessary I felt it was. Just as easily as Leon Hall targeted his facemask into Nelson's ribs, he could have placed his head to either side of the receiver. Had Hall taken that approach, Jordy most likely wouldn't have been injured, and Hall wouldn't have exposed himself to a concussion or spinal cord injury. For this reason, tackling 101 always teaches athletes to NEVER lower their heads and to "see what you hit."

For NFL players, this is their livelihood! How would you want to be tackled knowing that your next play, game or season is what is putting food on your family's table? Look out for your brothers on the field. You may be wearing different colored jerseys, but you all have the same goals at the end of the day. Don't try to end your opponents career because you just might end yours in the process.(Check out an article I wrote a few years back for Jay Fraga's Knockout Project on defenseless receivers in the NFL : Fixing Concussions with Band-Aid’s: How Effective is the NFL’s Defenseless Receiver Rule? )

Ultimately, Leon Hall was not fined although the NFL rules prohibit "lowering the head and making contact with the crown or 'hairline' parts of the helmet against any part of a defenseless receivers body." In my opinion, Hall's hit meets this definition. I feel this hit was made with the intention to injure, not just to make a tackle or break up the pass. Although I am critical of Leon Hall's hit and I am assuming his intentions, I am also somewhat of a hypocrite because I used to be the same type of player. On every play I tried to run over any defensive back who attempted to tackle me. When I did, my teammates got fired up, my coaches got fired up and I felt whole. So trust me, I understand what was going through Leon Hall's head as he was in pursuit of the Packers' leading receiver. But then again, maybe neither of us are to blame.

I was the type of running back who fought for every inch and tried to punish as many defenders as I could along the way. I don't recommend anyone do this and I believe this is partially why my career was shorter than I hoped.

Although this may just look like a normal picture of me running the football on a Friday night in 2007, there is actually a lot more going on. Take a look at my right hand. My clenched fist is in preparation for attempting to run over the Roxbury High School outside linebacker. I succeeded, but at a cost. I separated my shoulder on this play, which led to hurting my opposite shoulder and then using my head as a weapon. I truely believe if I sat out for this shoulder injury, I never would have injured my brain to the extent I did.

In 2009 a journalist by the name Malcolm Gladwell wrote an article called How Different are Football & Dog Fighting? This was written in the aftermath of Michael Vick's dog fighting NFL dismissal and jail sentence. The article talks about concussions and CTE, but also compares football to dogfighting and to be honest, I thought Gladwell was on to something then and I still do now.

"In a fighting dog, the quality prized above all others is the willingness to persevere even in the face of injury and pain. A dog that will not do that is labeled a 'cur' (worthless) and abandoned. A dog that keeps charging at it's opponents is said to possess 'gameness' and game dogs are revered."

- Malcolm Gladwell, How different are Football & Dog Fighting? (2009)

Leon Hall is a 10 year veteran in the NFL so he was undoubtedly brainwashed by the same old school mentality that I was exposed to growing up. You know what I'm talking about, "no pain no gain," "suck it up," "don't rub it we got ice" and my favorite "you just got your bell rung." It was the same era of glorified cheap shots, twisting ankles and gouging eyes under the scrum (I never partook in this part, but was on the receiving end plenty of times). This is all we knew. A part of me does understand why Leon Hall launched himself into Jordy Nelson with reckless abandon. But I also understand that is exactly what is wrong with the game of football. You want to save the game, fix that problem in my opinion. No new rule changes, or equipment would be required, just a shift in the definition of toughness...or gameness.

Gameness - A dogs desire to please an owner at any expense to itself

- Carl Semencic , in “The World of Fighting Dogs” (1984)

As recently as December 1st, 2016, Gladwell brought up the dog fighting connection again in a collaborative article with sports journalist, Bill Simmons, titled Simmons vs. Gladwell: The Future of Football. This article was written in the wake of Cam Newton's repetitive head shots and immediately after Luke Kuechly was seen sobbing after suffering a concussion on a Thursday night prime-time game against the Saints. In my opinion, I believe Kuechly was not crying because of pain or an uncontrollable reaction to his concussion. I think, Kuechly was crying because he was silently being labeled as a 'cur' by the media, his coaches, teammates and the running dialog in his head. But you know what, I have been there too and it sucks.

Another interesting point in The Future of Football article was a segment about a recent boxing match where one of the boxers quit in the 8th round because he didn't want to take anymore punishment. This is an example of an athlete admitting he doesn't need to be as game as a dog. Below, I provided a video of highlights from star NFL running back, Ezekiel Elliott (Zeke). I put this here as an example for young running backs on how they should run the ball. In my opinion, Zeke run's the with the perfect combination of brains and braun, which hopefully will lead to a longer career. In watching the highlights, notice that Zeke only lowers his shoulder to run over a defender when he as at the goal line, or to protect himself. My advice to running backs is that you are supposed to run away from defenders, not at them if you can avoid it. If you are too slow like I was, find a new position.

After reading this post, it might be seem like I have a personal vendetta against Leon Hall. I wholeheartedly do not, and as I mentioned, I'm sure we have a lot in common in terms up our football upbringing. Also, as all athletes know, you turn a switch on when you step on that field. You're not that same person on the streets. Trust me, I get it! Not many NFL players can say they played in the league for 10 years so Leon obviously is doing something right. I'd love to talk to him about how he was able to stay healthy for that long in a profession with a 100% injury rate. I will assume Hall has learned to please his coaches, teammates and the media along the way. You don't spend that much time in the league if you're not a game dog. That being said, Gladwell points out that organizations who select for gameness have a responsibility not to abuse the trust (ex. between athlete and coach).

"If you have men in your charge who would jump off a cliff for you, you cannot march them to the edge of the cliff—and dogfighting fails this test."

- Malcolm Gladwell, How different are Football & Dog Fighting? (2009)

Hits and plays like the Hall-Nelson hit happen every weekend all around the country. However, the NFL and all sports organizations at all levels of play need to exercise their responsibility to protect athletes. I am simply using this hit as one of many examples of how we can make football safer and to teach people what the real definition of toughness is. Unfortunately I learned the definition long after my playing days, but my hope is some young buck reads this and the light bulb goes off in their head sooner rather than later.

"'Toughness' is deciding to engage. Committing to the first step towards improving and taking it, aggressively. This is a decision that you can make, because you always have a choice, no matter what."

- Bill Anthes, Episode 54

NFL players Malcolm Jenkins, Cameron Jordan, and Charles Johnson detail their own struggles with head trauma and tackle the NFL's tough guy culture, offering an important message: Want to really "man up"? Sit out when you're hurt.

WHERE CAN YOU Find more From Malcolm Gladwell?

Website | Podcast | The New Yorker | Books

Download Episode 60 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

59 : Going From the Hardwood to Hollywood, With Standup Comedian, Sam Mushman

Kevin Saum — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 18:01:07 +0000

Sam Mushman is a former collegiate basketball player who found success in comedy during his transition to life after sports. Sam and I go way back. We played travel baseball together as youngsters and bonded in a Spanish class during our middle school school days before he went to Pope John high school in pursuit of his hoop dreams. After high school Sam continued his basketball career at Wingate University in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is where his streak of playing for 5 different head coaches in 4 years began. Sam and I reconnected last year when he invited me to come on his Backcourt Violation radio show/podcast based in New York City. Sam and his co-host, Vince Chang, are both former division two basketball players turned comedians. They discuss the world of college basketball on and off the court and interview special guests. Obviously, Sam and Vince have you laughing the entire show while keeping updated on the latest college basketball stories. You can tune in to their show every other Saturday 9-10am BBOXRADIO.com.

In Episode 59 Sam and I discuss the struggles of playing for different head coaches with different philosophies and different ideas of what role he was expected to play on the team. Not to mention having to prove himself year in and year out. This is a perfect example for one of the themes of the podcast, which is that you can't control what happens to you, but you can always control your response. In addition we talk about the decision process of choosing a school to play at and the ego's role in that choice. Sam also discusses what it's like to be a big fish in a small pond and the importance of being a realist in those situations. He credits his parents for both encouraging him, but also helping him stay grounded. Sam ultimately chose to play division 2 basketball, which allowed for more playing time, a more rewarding career in his opinion.

Sam gives another piece of advice to athletes in that he encourages them to not be afraid to go against the grain because fear takes away from instinct. Society tells you to stick with the status quo and do what others think you should do. Both Sam and I agree that is BS. I promise I wasn't the one to bring this up in our conversation, but Tim Tebow also faced criticism for going away from what people thought he should do when he decided to pursue a baseball career. I encourage you to watch the video below for inspiration. Speaking of baseball, Sam and I also talk about what could have been when he decided to drop baseball and focus on basketball full time. Sam stated that one of his biggest regrets was the way he stepped away from baseball.

Sam ended up transferring to Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after his freshman season at Wingate University. This time Sam's choice came down to what team wanted him the most, and he recommends that all athletes making this decision take that approach. Although Sam's career at Holy Family was far from comfortable with the constant coaching changes, he did find a passion for standup comedy during this time. Sam talks about some of his first few shows where he bombed, but he continued to persevere and improve each and every time he went back out on stage. Sam has been doing standup for about six years now and says he has come a long way since his first few shows. This is largely due to his persistence in being a "student of the game" just like he was as an athlete and his willingness to put himself in uncomfortable situations. If you're comfortable, you're not growing. Sam's transformation reminds me of a book I have recently been reading called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. This book talks about how the decisions you make everyday are either putting you on a path toward success or failure. It's easy to make the choice to engage in the positive actions and just as easy not to. At first these small actions don't seem like much, but over time they compound, just like Sam has seen in his comedy career.

Sam found a passion outside of the sport he was playing, and it helped in his transition to life after sports. Sam is more than just a basketball player and just like he is more than just a comic. Don't let society tell you what you should and shouldn't do. Just because their afraid doesn't mean you have to be. I hope this episode inspires you to step out of your comfort zone and as Dr. Jarrod Spencer, Sports Psychologist put's it "Follow the Energy"(Aka, do what makes you excited to live!)! Since recording this interview I hired Sam as my speaking coach to help me get out of my comfort zone and the progress has been amazing!

Take a look at one of Sam's shows below (WARNING, EXPLICIT CONTENT).

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Sam Mushman?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YouTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU Follow Backcourt Violation?

iTunes | SoundCloud | Mixcloud | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 59 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Permalink

58 : Sitting on the Cancer Curveball with Pro Baseball Pitcher, Clate Schmidt

Kevin Saum — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 20:23:21 +0000

Clate Schmidt is a right-handed pitcher for the Connecticut Tigers, which is a Class A team in the Detroit Tigers organization. Prior to pro-ball, Clate was a standout weekend starter for Clemson University, which is one of the most prestigious college baseball programs in the country. Prior to Clemson, Clate was an All-American at Allatoona High School in Georgia where he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers for the first time in the 36th round (No. 1,114 overall pick). In addition to baseball, Clate was also a three year letter winner on the Allatoona High School basketball team. During our interview we discuss the benefits of playing multiple sports. Clate was drafted 3-times throughout his career, but no level of success on the mound could have prepared him for the news he received after his junior season at Clemson. During this episode we talk about the decision to pass up a million dollars and a pro-career to attend college.

After feeling a lump on his neck while taking a shower, Clate was diagnosed with nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s lymphoma in May 2015. Coming from a military family, Clate said that he learned to compartmentalize his emotions, but in our interview he said when he got news of the diagnosis, he couldn't hold back the tears and the thoughts of "why me?" Baseball was always on his mind, so once he was informed the cancer was treatable, he immediately made it his goal to be pitching on opening day in 2016, which was Clate's senior season. During our interview Clate discusses the trials and tribulations of his cancer treatments. Specifically we discuss the moments of discouragement, constantly feeling sick and the necessity of a strong support system.

There were plenty of times when Clate felt bad for himself. A perfectly healthy 21 year old in prime physical condition and a division-one athlete to boot. How could this be happening? Clate and I agree that these are normal thoughts and feelings to have when going through a serious illness like this one or a serious injury. Clate offers up some advice for when these down moments pop up. Specifically he encourages the use of a Sports Psychologist, which we have discussed in great detail in previous episodes of this podcast (48, 49, 50). Throughout the interview, Clate referred to the power of his support system during his recovery. Specifically, his immediate family, which includes his younger brother Clarke who pitches for cross-state rival South Carolina, his teammates and coaches. Everyone seemed to have a good grasp on when to push Clate and when to dial it back. Clate had the opportunity to meet with Chicago Cubs pitcher, Jon Lester who beat a similar cancer back in 2006. Lester warned Clate not to push so hard that he breaks on his comeback, especially because of what his body went through with the chemo treatments. I think this is a great lesson for athletes not matter how severe the injury or illness that they are coming back from. Sometimes you can actually be the root cause of some of your setbacks.

Dad, Clarke, Clate and Mom. The role of a support system is huge, it comes up in almost every episode. If you see one of your teammates down, go out of your way to pick them up.

Clate has recently paid his experiences forward to standout University of Pittsburgh running back, James Conner, who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in December 2015. During our interview Clate discusses the bond they formed through their own adversity. Another area where Clate is paying it forward is through his work with the Rally Foundation where they aim to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

Through will power, perseverance and a strong support network, both Clate and James achieved their goals of making it back for their first games of the 2016 season.

Some additional topics we cover include the following:

The role faith in God played in Clate's treatments and recovery
Hobbies outside of baseball
What its like having a brother who plays for your team's biggest rival
The importance of prehab for pitchers arm health
Clate's decision to pass up a million dollars and a pro-career to attend college

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW CLATE SCHMIDT?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | F aCEBOOK

Download Episode 58 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

57 : Loving Your Brain with Pro Snowboarder & Love Your Brain Co-Founder, Kevin Pearce

Kevin Saum — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 04:30:53 +0000

Kevin Pearce grew up in Vermont with three older brothers who were very into snowboarding from a young age. Like any younger brother would, Kevin wanted to join in on the fun and tried to copy what his older brothers were doing and compete with them. Kevin eventually turned pro and began beating the worlds most renowned snowboarder in competitions, Shaun White. During our interview, Kevin talked about how he struggled tremendously in school because of dyslexia and found snowboarding as an outlet where he can succeed and ultimately make money. However, Kevin would be the first to admit that his entire identity was wrapped up in the sport of snowboarding (sounds like another Kevin you may know...). Like in many of the interviews I have done with successful athletes, it is almost necessary to fully immerse yourself in a sport if you expect to become elite. The problem comes when your sport is ripped away from you and its out of your control. It's a shitty feeling to say the least and it happens to almost every athlete at some point in their careers.

In ideal situations, athletes career's come to an end on their terms. However, you can't control what happens to you as an athlete, especially when it comes to injuries. In the high stakes world of extreme sports, even at the peak of success, you never know when your last run might be. For Kevin Pearce, it was on December 31, 2009 in Park City, Utah after he crashed hard while attempting a new trick on the halfpipe. Complicating matters was the concussion he sustained a week prior in Copper, Colorado at the first olympic qualifier of the season. He chose to hide his symptoms because he didn't want anyone to tell him he couldn't snowboard (also sounds like another Kevin you may know...). Like myself, Kevin also suffered from Second Impact Syndrome after the December 31st crash and was put in a medically induced coma. He then spent 36 days in critical care until he was eventually transferred to Craig Hospital, which is a rehabilitation hospital that specializes in treating patients with traumatic brain injuries. Kevin made a miraculous recovery, but hasn't yet to make it back to the level he once competed at and says he is reminded of his brain injury everyday because of his residual symptoms.

I watched The Crash Reel (featured above) prior to my conversation with Kevin and I was blown away. I recommend that anyone and everyone watch it because it shows the importance of a strong support system for any injured athlete and why you should listen your support group. This film takes you through Kevin's early life/snowboard career and his injury/rehabilitation. In addition it bring's you into Kevin's tight knit family and what they were feeling during and after Kevin's traumatic brain injury. All throughout Kevin's rehabilitation, he had the goal of returning to snowboarding, despite multiple doctors advising him not to. This drive to never settle for average pushed him to get better faster, but it also worried his family, especially his brother David who has down syndrome.

The Crash Reel Starring Kevin Pearce, Shaun White

What a great family! Check out The Crash Reel to find out what I'm talking about!

In addition to the compelling depiction of Kevin's family, the film is great for athletes who are coming to grips with a new normal that may or may not include their sport. When Kevin did eventually try to snowboard for the first time, he quickly realized that he was nowhere near the level he once competed at. During our interview Kevin talks about his decision to continue snowboarding, while stepping away from competitions and how he does that smartly and safely. In addition he talks about the various ailments he continues to battle and what he has done to try to improve his symptoms, especially the troubles he's had with his vision.

You can download the documentary on iTunes or on The Crash Reel's website.

iTunes : The Crash Reel Store: The Crash Reel

Similar to how I felt compelled to create this podcast, Kevin and his brother Adam created the LoveYourBrain Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that works to connect, educate and empower people to live a brain healthy lifestyle. Through yoga, meditation and mindfulness programs, LoveYourBrain helps improve lives, creating community and optimizing health for everyone they reach. During our interview we discuss the benefits of yoga and ways to LoveYourBrain everyday. Since recording this interview back in September, I have taken up a yoga practice for the first time. I have really enjoyed it and I hope this episode inspires both athletes and non-athletes to explore the countless benefits yoga can bring to your life. I have found it to be a great de-stresser in addition to supplementing my knee rehabilitation.

Some additional topics we discuss are the impact Dave Mirra's death has had in the extreme sports community and what Kevin's advice is to snowboarders and all athletes for loving their brain's.

WHERE CAN YOU Support Love your brain?

WEBSITE | Documentary | Shop | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Kevin Pearce?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | Facebook

Download Episode 57 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

56 : The Women's Lax Helmet Filling Santa's Sleigh w/ Jenna Abelli

Kevin Saum — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Jenna Abelli laxin at Tufts University

Jenna Abelli is the Category Manager for Women's Lacrosse at Cascade, which is a leading helmet and goggle manufacturer in the sport of lacrosse. Jenna was a collegiate lacrosse player at Tufts University before working on the launch of the new Cascade LX women's helmet (as seen in the picture above). The video below describes what went into the design of the LX helmet.

In episode 56, Jenna and I first talk about her lacrosse career and any injuries she suffered. Fortunately, Jenna was able to avoid any major injuries, but she did witness many of her teammates sustain injuries. In the sport of women's lacrosse most head injuries come from accidental contact with the ball or stick after an errand shot, pass or stick check. Since 2002, equipment guidelines in women's lacrosse require the use of goggles, but helmets that meet ASTM Standards are still an optional piece of equipment. Goggles were first introduced to prevent orbital fractures. With girls getting bigger, stronger and faster in the era of sports specialization and with newly added rule changes, these accidental contacts have become more severe in the women's game. The LX helmet was designed to more adequately equip athletes in the evolving game.

Some of the testing necessary to meet the ASTM Standards includes a drop test, 45 mph stick check test, 60 mph ball shot test and a deformation test. All these tests are designed to match potential forces athletes would experience during a game. The deformation test is important because this ensures the LX will not injure another athlete who chooses not to wear a helmet because as mentioned previously, it is an optional piece of equipment in most areas of the country and world. It is however mandatory in the state of Florida. This decision is left up to the state high school athletic associations. You can find your state's athletic association here.

Featured : Black Cascade LX Helmet. Also available in white, royal, navy, Carolina blue and red.

Owners manual can be found at this LINK.

Key features of the LX:

The LX is an integrated goggle system, meaning goggle and helmet are all one piece. This relieves the facial pressure experienced by a separate goggle.
The outer shell is protective against impact, but soft to the touch to keep unprotected players safe.
A rear adjustable strap allows for varying head shapes and sizes. This feature also allows for multiple hair styles.
Large air vents to keep athletes cool.
The ability to add team customization to the head gear.

Hear what the athletes are saying about the LX.

In the sport of American football, the evolving helmet has been a major topic of discussion. This is especially true in regard to the helmet being used as a weapon because players find a false sense of security in the improved technology. During the interview, I asked what Jenna's thoughts were on this issue with the introduction of the LX helmet to women's lacrosse. Jenna and her team at Cascade have conducted a tremendous amount of field testing and although she says players look more confident in double team situations, women's lacrosse is a non-contact sport by nature so the football comparison is unjustified. With that being said, it should also be noted that this helmet is not designed to protect against the same impacts seen in football and men's lacrosse.

At one point in our discussion, Jenna compared the acceptance of ski/snowboard helmets (slight foreshadowing to next week's episode with pro snowboarder, Kevin Pearce) and what she foresees happening with the adoption of the LX helmet in women's lacrosse. I will put it bluntly. At first people are resistant because they want to be "COOL" or "TOUGH" , but eventually people realize they are being a DUMBASS by not protecting the most important organ in their body, which is your brain. Besides, what athlete doesn't like more gear?! At a price of $149.99 this additional piece of equipment, which could possibly save your life, should not be a barrier to participation. How much is your brain or your child's brain worth to you? My hope is that the NCAA mandates the use of these helmets because that will make them "COOL" to the rising stars in the sport.

WHERE CAN YOU Purchase a Cascade LX Helmet?

DICKSSPORTINGGOODS.COM | Sportstop.com | Lax.COM | LACROSSEMONKEY.COM

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW CASCADE?

INSTAGRAM | CASCADEWLX | TWITTER | Facebook | Youtube

Download Episode 56 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

55 : Eating to Heal & Eating to Perform with Sports Nutritionist, Erin Sparrold

Kevin Saum — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 18:43:05 +0000

Erin Sparrold, CN, MET is a Sports Nutritionist with the Mind of the Athlete group and has over 20 years of nutrition coaching experience. Erin holds a degree in nutrition science from the University of Arizona and a sports specific certification in metabolic efficiency training. A major focus of her studies is on nutritional interventions for treatment of anxiety and depression which can be problematic for both healthy and injured athletes. In episode 55, we talk about nutrition both for athletes looking to improve their performance on the field and for those who are out of the game either temporarily or long-term. When an athlete is out of the game due to an injury, illness, retirement or other obstacle, a focus on nutrition can help distract from negative thoughts and puts you in control of getting healthy.

Erin Sparrold, Sports Nutritionist at Mind of the Athlete teaches how to keep your blood sugar level and how to balance a meal or snack so your blood sugar doesn't spike.

Below are some of our talking points:

Erin's athletic background
What Erin wished she knew about nutrition when she was an athlete
Athletes and body image
- Looking for red flags
  - Reporting restrictive consumptions
  - Short list of foods they eat
  - Sense of anxiety to eat certain foods
- How to help these athletes
  - Working side by side with the sports psychology doctors at Mind of the Athlete
  - Promoting the benefits of food
Nutrition for athletes who need to gain weight the healthy way
Why all women should lift weights
- Postural issues
- Improving/ Maintaining bone density
- Fighting the loss in skeletal muscle mass as you age
- Improving metabolism
Why the post competition/training nutrition is so important
- Within one hour of exercise
Paleo conversation, the pros and cons
Why there is nothing you should NEVER eat and why living in deprivation is unhealthy
What athletes should eat everyday
Why your plates should have lots of plant-based color
Why you should avoid eating processed foods
Macro vs. micro nutrients
Foods for brain health
- Omega 3’s from fatty fish especially
Gut health’s relationship to brain health
What is Kefir and why is it a good recovery drink
Nutritional interventions and depressions
Why an athletes calorie consumption should match their performance output
Alcohol and it's effect on athletic performance
- Dehydration
- Lowers production of growth hormone
  - Avoid the buzz
- Makes you clumsy because nervous system isn’t on point
- Takes a few days to recover
- In regard to injury recovery, it leaves you more prone to depression
Nutrition for endurance vs. power athletes
Are creatine and other supplements safe for athletes to take?
The benefits of eating organic
- Tips for eating organic on a budgets
  - Switch everything that comes from a cow to organic
Environmental Working Group
- Clean 15
- Dirty Dozen
Gluten conversation
- Still a lot unknown
- Avoid if eating it leads to GI distress and bloating
- False healthy halo, replacement products aren’t always better for you
Most performance issues come from dehydration
- Effects your ability to focus, regulate body temperature and perform agile/plyometric movements
- Why Gatorade might not be the answer due to its high sugar content
- Better options for electrolyte replacement:
  - Osmo Nutrition
  - NUUN Tablets

WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MIND OF THE ATHLETE?

WEBSITE | BOOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW Erin Sparrold?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 55 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

54 : What is Toughness? Bill Anthes, Green Beret, Founder of Between the Ears

Kevin Saum — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 02:55:07 +0000

Bill Anthes is a Green Beret, Co-Owner of CrossFit Motown, a 2015 inductee into Montclair State University's Athletics Hall of Fame for his superior performance on the soccer field, and Founder of "Between the Ears." The name Between the Ears draws it's inspiration from a quote stated by CrossFit founder, Greg Glassman, when he said "the greatest adaptation to CrossFit takes place between the ears." That adaptation being mental toughness and specifically referring to the power of putting yourself in uncomfortable situations. We talk a lot about the athlete transition on this podcast which is often compared to a soldiers shift back to civilian life. The creation of Between the Ears has been a part of Bill's difficult transition to civilian life (which we discuss in the interview) and it is intended to provide voluntary opportunities for people to put themselves in controlled, yet uncomfortable situations that foster personal growth as a team. I have always prided myself on being mentally tough, so you could say I was pretty confident going into my first Between the Ears (004) Evolution. From now through the remainder of this post, I will refer the Between the Ears as "BTE."

Evolution - any process of formation or growth; development. You can find the word "Evolution" written 64 times in the BTE waiver. As most people do, I didn't actually read the waiver before I signed my life away so I missed all the signs that foreshadowed the most important personal transformation I have ever experienced. Although most BTE evolutions are unique from one another, I will not reveal the specifics of BTE 004 to maintain its purity for future classes. Bill and I discuss the power of going into something completely blind of what lies ahead. However, I will say that if you are proud of your Tough Mudder headband collection or your Spartan Race medals, the feeling of accomplishment I felt after doing BTE 004 made everything else I'd done before that pale in comparison. And guess what? I quit. I cried. I tapped out. I didn't even finish.

I thought long and hard after making the decision to pull myself out of the BTE 004 Evolution and honestly it was the best learning experience I've ever encountered. Below are my thoughts on my personal evolution, which I sent to Bill after taking a few days to soak-in my thoughts and emotions (READ CAPTIONS):

Hi Bill,

Honestly, I haven't been able to stop thinking about last weekend. The poem, the idea of engaging aggressively in its relation to "toughness", the added weight of the extra baggage we carry around with us, and obviously my decision to pull myself out of the evolution. When I was reading this email on Monday I had to fight back the tears once again (I obviously don't win this fight often). Although I am a crier, I have never been so powerfully impacted by an experience like I was by Between The Ears 004.

The idea of toughness has been something that I have been obsessed with for most of my life. I always wanted people to think I was "tough." Toughness to me used to mean playing injured, lifting the heaviest weight, hitting home runs and scoring touchdowns. Despite my effort to prove this definition of toughness, I felt I was never tough enough. In the process I played an entire week's worth of football with a bleeding brain and nearly killed myself. I tried to be tough to an extent that almost killed me and I still felt that my efforts weren't enough. Therefore I continued to push myself to extreme limits for what is now 9 years striving to be what I thought was "tough." It took awhile, but my knee was eventually impacted by this mindset as well. The same knee that was begging me not to take another step, when my brain was telling it "you're a sissy."

"In my experience, we rarely learn the deepest and most powerful lessons by examining the surface. We need to go to the deepest depths, not to find the answers, but to ask the questions. The answers, as we find out, are not always what we may want them to be. At the surface, potentially we answer these questions completely opposite of what the true answer really is."

-Bill Anthes

I have been asking myself a lot of questions in reflecting about the decisions I made during the evolution. It was seriously a life-changing experience for me. Going into this you told us to think about our "why." My why was to prove that although my body can't do what it used to or what I want it to do athletically (because of my knee), I still have the same mind and determination that I have always had. Looking back on it now, that why is exactly what has destroyed my body and tormented my self-worth for as long as I can remember. At the surface, I really did answer my question completely opposite to what the true answer turned out to be or what I wanted it to be.

"When we strip away the armor, the muscle, the ego, the defenses and are left exposed, we do not always love what we see...and that is ok. The 'toughness' piece is deciding to engage. Committing to the first step towards improving and taking it, aggressively. This is a decision that you can make, because you always have a choice, no matter what".

- Bill Anthes

I'll never forget when you had us stop and you told us that we were getting lazy with our movements and were just going through the motions feeling bad for ourselves. I took that to heart because I did find myself just trying to "survive" (can't think of a better word) out there. That's not tough. Anyone can do that and most people do. Like you said when we first began, toughness is deciding to engage, committing to the first step toward improving and taking it AGGRESSIVELY and we always have that choice. Toughness wasn't playing with a separated shoulder or concussion. Toughness was deciding to make my commitment to the football team and taking every step and every rep aggressively and with a purpose. I was and I am tough. The best thing about toughness is that we are in control. I can't thank you enough for providing me with an experience to evolve.

I'm not sure what was harder, coming up to you and trying to get the words out that I couldn't go any further or seeing everyone as they finally arrived at the end. The old thoughts of doubt in myself started creeping in. Did I really earn this patch? Coin? Backpack? Breakfast sandwich? Or did I cop out by not sticking with the group. I wasn't the only one who was feeling like shit. Did I take the easy way out by having K (Bill's wife) pick me up, so I didn't have to watch the group do the work I should've be doing? Honestly, for the first time I don't think so. My knee was hurting worse than ever before and I actually listened to what my body was telling me. Was it the answer or the outcome I wanted? Not even close. Was it the best lesson I ever learned. 100%. No one looked at me differently or down to me because I didn't finish with the group. That's because toughness is the decision to engage and taking every step toward improving aggressively. I literally couldn't take an aggressive step.

Sincerely,

Kevin

BTE Class 004

Choosing to continue on the journey with a bum knee would not have been making an aggressive step towards improving. I have already proven I can do that, time and time again. I've also proved those decisions have never led to anything positive, I just didn't want to believe it. My hope is that this episode shows athletes that playing injured isn't tough. It doesn't lead to the glory, the girls or the accolades that Hollywood and ESPN portrays it to be. YOU control if you are tough or not. Did you dog-it on the play to the other side of the field? Did you slow down before the finish line on that sprint? Did you put your head down after the opposing team ran the kickoff back for 6? If the answer is no, then you ARE tough and no coach, teacher, parent, teammate, classmate or anyone can take that away from you.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND BILL?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL : bill@btwntheears.com

Download Episode 54 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

53 : David Vobora, Playing Through Concussions & Finding a Purpose Away From the NFL

Kevin Saum — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 21:42:35 +0000

With football having a 100% injury rate, you truly never know when your career will come to an end each time you step on the gridiron. David Vobora, retired NFL linebacker, knows all too well about this stat after suffering a career ending shoulder injury while covering a punt for the Seattle Seahawks in his fourth NFL season. Up to this point in his life, football was all David knew and the question "What is David without football?"terrified him. In Episode 53, David tells us about the trials and tribulations this shoulder injury caused and how it ultimately led to his new-found purpose. In addition, David talks about 1 of the 7 diagnosed concussions he suffered from throughout his career and what implications they have for his future.

David said that the shoulder injury he suffered in his last game magnified a deeper rooted issue within him as he eventually became addicted to pain killers. He was spending up to $2,000 a week on these drugs mostly in an attempt to avoid feeling sick from the withdrawals. During our interview, David recommends telling on yourself if you are struggling with addiction. David told on himself to his wife and eventually checked himself into a drug-detox facility where he lost 34 pounds and suffered 2 seizures because of the withdrawal process. After getting himself healthy again, he began training to make a comeback to the NFL, because thats all he's ever known. Although David did eventually have an opportunity to play in the NFL again, something was different. The excitement football once gave him was no longer in his heart. At this point, David began thinking about how "David the football player", could translate to something away from the sport. David always loved the training and preparation that went into playing football, so naturally he found himself back in the gym.

After retiring form the NFL, David opened The Performance Vault in Dallas, TX where he started training elite level athletes. Not long after opening the gym, David met retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills, who lost both arms and legs to an IED in Afghanistan. David began working with Travis to restore the physicality he was once accustomed to and help him overcome his fear of falling. I encourage you to check out the video posted above, which shows how far Travis has come with his training and how he inspired the creation of The Adaptive Training Foundation (ATF).

David working with retired U.S. Marine Corporal Blake Watson.

ATF's mission is to empower the human athlete, restore hope through movement, and redefine the limits of individuals with disabilities (veterans and civilians alike). As CEO of this organization, David has found a new purpose away from the game of football. Although grateful for the platform the NFL gave him, he felt the success he achieved in the NFL left him with an empty feeling. David's work with the ATF allows him to use his gifts to match someone else's needs. The community and the expectation that everyone is fully "present" within the Adaptive Training Foundation is one of the keys to it's success. During our interview, David said something that I found very powerful and relatable to this audience, "I don't trust an unbroken person, I believe those that are willing to share their scars are proof that they are willing to move beyond them." With everyone in the gym, present-minded and encouraging one another, they are able to expedite the suffering of others by sharing their own stories. This was and is my exact hope for this podcast.

In addition to the story of Travis Mills, we also discuss training methods such as Yuri Verkhoshansky's Rate of Force Production Principles, the importance of listening to your gut and the mutually beneficial dynamic between his elite and adaptive athletes. Please visit David's website below and show your support for ATF. Proceeds go toward ATF programs which include REDEFINE and REIGNITE. REDEFINE is a 9-week intensive training program to Restore, Recalibrate, and Redeploy adaptive athletes to inspire others in achieving what many would view as impossible. Through the REIGNITE program, adaptive athletes are provided with a dedicated performance training environment to advance themselves in the Paralympic pipeline, or in the realm of elite endurance competition (IronMan).

I want to personally thank David for coming on the podcast and sharing his inspiring tale, which included a successful transition to life after sports. Listeners from all walks of life can learn something from this one.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND David?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 53 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

52 : Seeking & Destroying Obstacles with Green Beret, Texas Longhorn & Seattle Seahawk, Nate Boyer

Kevin Saum — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 03:16:56 +0000

Nate Boyer grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and at times felt guilty because of all the love, support and opportunity he had at home. He describes this feeling as living in a "bubble" where you can't see anything else going on around you. Although I grew up on the other side of the country in New Jersey, I can relate to that feeling of growing up in a "bubble". It wasn't until I attended Rutgers University and took a class called "Race, Class, Gender and Schooling" where I was one of 4 white kids in the class that I began to realize how naive I was to what was going on outside of the borders of Long Valley, NJ. Nate's scope on the idea was much further-reaching than mine and he said he was greatly moved by the events of 9/11.

At the time, he was traveling the world in an attempt to get outside the "bubble". He would work odd jobs (we talk about what he learned from working with autistic children in this episode) to save money and travel on a modest budget, but as Nate put it in the interview, he was "exploring without a purpose." While back in the U.S., Nate found a purpose when came across this Time Magazine article called The Tragedy of Sudan and felt an overwhelming sense of duty to help out. So naturally, he saved up, bought a plane ticket, got a visa and "negotiated" his way over to Africa as volunteer. Give this article a read and let me know if Darfur sounds like a place you would voluntarily want to go ... I wouldn't. During our conversation Nate talks about the various obstacles he came across while in Darfur and how he overcame them.

Upon Nate's return to the United States he wanted to join the Army Special Forces and become a Green Beret. After seeing the type of people he wanted to fight for in Darfur, Nate felt a connection to the U.S. Army Special Forces Motto “De oppresso liber,” which means “To free the oppressed." Nate became one of the 11 out of 157 recruits in his class to make it through the intense training required to become a Green Beret. This is where learn why the abbreviation for Special Forces (SF) stands for "suck fest." After serving 5 years of active duty, Nate sought out a new obstacle to conquer, and that was playing Division-1 college football for one of the most prestigious football schools in the country, not to mention Nate had never played organized football before.

There is something special about the #37

Nate had always been a good athlete growing up and was a standout baseball and basketball player. In episode 52 we learn how lesson's learned as a Green Beret translated to playing football. For example, always placing the mission first and fighting for the man on his left and right helped take some of the worry off himself and onto someone else. Listen to the interview to find out how else Nate was able to set himself apart from the rest of the walk-ons. We also learn about what it was like playing for legendary coach Mack Brown, his successor Charlie Strong and finding his niche as a long snapper. The Longhorns certainly didn't live up to their history of glory while Nate was on the team, but he gives us examples that prove why the result isn't always where happiness comes from.

Since Nate was a kid, he wanted to be a professional athlete and that dream came true when he signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Although this stint in the NFL wasn't as long as Nate might have hoped, he continues to have a positive outlook. Nate has achieved some incredible feats in his life, but he considers getting cut by the Seahawks a time of failure. At the end of this episode, Nate teaches us why its important to redirect the energy and pain from these moments and use them as fuel to go after the next goal.

In our interview, Nate says his "comfort lies in discomfort." Nate has continuously sought out obstacles and destroyed them time and time again. Whether you're an athlete who suffered an injury, got cut from the team or are facing another obstacle, I have no doubt you will learn your necessary next step from listening to Nate's tale. Know that when you are uncomfortable, you are also growing into a better person and athlete. Most recently, Nate has been featured on multiple media outlets discussing the controversy over Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the National Anthem. Check out his Open Letter the Colin HERE and watch the video below!

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Nate?

Website | I nstagram | Twitter | Facebook

Download Episode 52 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

51 : U.S. Army Special Forces Captain, Ben Harrow, Finding a New Normal

Kevin Saum — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:26:52 +0000

As the country celebrates Veterans Day and honors the men and women who risk their lives to protect our country, the Heads 'N Tales podcast begins a 4-part series interviewing these brave individuals and those that serve them. This week we hear from U.S. Army Special Forces Captain, Ben Harrow.

Ben grew up on Long Island and played multiple sports, which included ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse. Ben emerged as an elite lacrosse player while in high school and was an All-State attackman by his senior season. During the college recruiting process, Ben was most attracted to the service academies. In our interview, Ben said he chose to go to West Point because they showed him the most love. It's always good to go somewhere that you're wanted.

Ben chose the number 37 in high school and it stuck with him ever since. Fun Fact: at the time he actually wanted to wear #42 because that was the number standout Hofstra lacrosse player and 2-time All-American, Chris Panos wore. 37 was the highest number available at the Woodberry Forrest Boarding School.

We discuss the topics listed below about his lacrosse career:

Ben's decision to play at West Point
Transition from attack to midfield
Earning the Steve Vlahakis unsung hero award
Finding a new Identity when his lacrosse career ended
The benefits of playing multiple sports growing up

Ben's freshman year at West Point was in the fall of 2001, so obviously the events of 9/11 had a huge impact on the Long Island native. During our interview, Ben takes us through his thoughts and feelings on that day and remembers trying to get in contact with his father who worked in the financial district. Having grown up so close to the twin towers made the terrorist attacks of 9/11 sting a little more in Ben's heart. During our interview we discuss Ben's decision to eventually to go into infantry and become a Green Beret.

The list below cover's some of our talking points about what it's like to be a Green Beret:

Why the Special Forces are the thinkers "Princeton grads that could win a bar fight"
Selection process
What it's like to lead a team of more experienced guys
What its like to get shot at and what to do
- Drop, assess, distance and direction, make a decision
- Becomes second nature through repetition like in sports

On May 15, 2012, 5 months into his second deployment to Afghanistan, Ben was walking through a doorway when he stepped on a pressure plate Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The explosion took off his right leg and his left leg was so badly broken it also had to be amputated. Some of his other injuries included the loss of two fingers on his right hand, soft tissue damage on his forearm and both of his eardrums were blown out. During the interview Ben takes us through what he remembers from that day. Below are some of the topics we discuss about his injury:

The picture of his wife Gina and son Peyton he thought about moments after the explosion
What happened when he woke up in Germany
- 75 units of blood later
- "Do still have my dick?"
Overcoming the addiction to painkillers cold turkey
Finding a “new normal”
Before the injuries Ben was a 215 lb tactical athlete, 135 lb after injury.
- Felt like he was starting from negative 100
Relying on his experience as an athlete "dealing with the suck"
Battling the ego when he felt like he was a "broken torso in an electric wheelchair"
Prosthetic struggles
Limb lengthening (osteodistraction) procedures to improve effectiveness of his prosthetics
- 2 medical world records
  - Shortest femur ever lengthened
  - Most bone regenerated (6.5 inches)
- This bone growth allows ben to use two vacuum seal prosthetic legs
- Ben was the first patient to ever receive this type of internal osteodistraction and it is now a procedure commonly used for amputees
- Picture below

This is an X-Ray of the osteodistraction hardware in Ben's femur. During the interview he explains in full-depth how it works and where the power of perspective came in.

Hockey was Ben's first love in sports. Today, hockey is the one thing that feels the same for him with legs or without. Ben also credits his participation for helping him physically and mentally throughout his recovery and now helps coach his son Peyton's ice hockey team.

Ben normally plays for the Italian National Paralympic Sled Hockey team, but here he is filling in for the US team's goalie after an injury.

Ben overcame so many obstacles after stepping on that IED in Afghanistan back in 2012. Ben says that the greatest lesson he learned while at West Point was that hard work really does pay off. The greatest lesson he learned while serving our country as a Green Beret is the importance of adaptability. Whether you are overcoming an injury, illness or a different type of obstacle, you won't get better without hard work and and the road to success often has it's detours. When the time comes pause, assess, figure out where you need to go and aggressively make a decision to get better.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Ben?

INSTAGRAM

Download Episode 51 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

50 : Dr. Jarrod Spencer, Sports Psychologist, The Athlete Transition to Life After Sports

Kevin Saum — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 20:22:26 +0000

This point in the fall season is often a time when many athletes athletic career's come to an end. For many, senior day/night comes and goes faster than you were able to process the fact that it was most likely the last time you will ever step foot on the field/court/etc. For others, maybe a career ending injury shattered your dreams of playing at the next level. Regardless, a day will come when playing sports comes to an end for every athlete. Unfortunately, there usually no roadmap, lesson plan, tutorial or guide given to you to show you what your next step should be or what will fill the void left your life. After I suffered a career ending brain injury during a high school football game, feelings of confusion, hopelessness and insecurity quickly crept into my life with full vigor. I only ever knew myself as an athlete, a football player and a baseball player. What was I without these outlets to prove my "worth?" Honestly, I felt like I was nothing and a nobody. These feelings stuck around with me for close to 4 years. Fortunately, there is help out there and my goal with this episode is to prevent other athletes from feeling how I felt.

This week on the podcast we hear from Dr. Jarrod Spencer, Sports Psychologist, President and Founder of Mind of the Athlete. He is the creator of the Mind of the Athlete Program, a cutting edge video and audio sports psychology curriculum. This program, made up of sixteen videos, sixteen accompanying worksheets, and ten CD’s, is currently used worldwide in countries such as South Africa, Ireland, and South Korea. He is also author of the book The Sky is Not the Limit: Discovering the True North for Your Life's Path.

Dr. Jarrod Spencer works with professional, Olympic, college, and high school athletes, coaches, and teams across the country. In addition to serving as the Sports Psychologist for athletic teams at such schools as University of Maryland, Old Dominion University, Lehigh University, and Lafayette College, Dr. Spencer also works individually with athletes from University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, Ohio State, Cal Poly, Princeton, and many more.

As an athlete, Dr. Spencer was an All-State high school wrestler who captained his team to back-to-back New Jersey State Championships. While in college, he was a record-setting tailback for the Lafayette College football team until his career ended due to suffering multiple concussions. Dr. Spencer knows all too well of the mental and emotional struggles athletes face in their search to find an identity outside of sports. In this episode, Dr. Spencer gives you the tools to make this transition easier than ours was. Some of our talking points can be found below:

Mind of the Athlete Sports Psychologist, Dr. Jarrod Spencer, discusses how to pay attention to the emotions associated with rehabbing an injury and steps necessary to recover properly.

A humbling experience Jarrod had with a reporter after a high school wrestling match.
The dangers of kick-offs in the sport of American football.
Career ending concussions while playing tailback at Lafayette College and the ensuing post-concussion symptoms (PCS) and how he still suffers, but doesn't regret playing.
The impact the book "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman had on him.
Where Dr. Spencer's passion for sport psychology was sparked “power of the mind."
The problems with sports specialization.
Depression during transition to life after sports.
Chuck DiBilio (Episode 34) reference. "The greatness is still there."
“Follow the Energy” (Things you do that don’t drain you, you actually get energized).
Dr. Spencer's involvement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes during his transition to life after sports.
The difference between quitting and retiring (Positive Re-Frame)
Why "if you don’t have an outlet to let out the stress you are bound to crack under the pressure."
The importance of exercise in the athlete transition. "Natural drug release." (See above video)
CrossFit discussion and avoiding injury.
Adding tools to your mental tool box, "the physical always leaves you, but the mental never leaves."
Discussion on the work he has done with Sage Karam (Pro Indycar driver) USA Today : A Comeback Story
Dr. Spencer's first book, "The Sky is Not the Limit"
Why it's important to practice what you are good at.
Why passion drives success, "The Energy Bus" book.
How God will keep sending you the same lesson over and over and over again until you get it. (I have learned this one the hard way)
Mind of the Athlete Offerings
Dr. Spencer's new book: "Mind of the Athlete : Clearer Mind, Better Performance"
The film 7 days in Utopia (Seen Below)

WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MIND OF THE ATHLETE?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN

Where can you get a copy of Mind Of The Athlete?

Mind of the Athlete: Clearer Mind Better Performance By Dr. Jarrod Spencer

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW DR. Spencer?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 50 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

49 : Dr. Megan Cannon, Sports Psychologist, Post Concussion Syndrome, "Sit Out a Season or Sit Out The Rest of Your Life"

Kevin Saum — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 11:00:00 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales Podcast we continue a 4-part educational series with the team from Mind of The Athlete in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They understand that sports are emotional and strive to improve the emotional health of athletes. The team at Mind of the Athlete aim to help athletes unlock there potential by equipping athletes with cutting edge sports psychology content, resources, and skills. Their mission is to help athletes thrive and they do so by providing the highest quality one-on-one coaching, team consulting, and speeches.

In Episode 49 we hear from Dr. Megan Cannon and the topic of our conversation is managing post-concussion symptoms. Dr. Cannon has extensive training within the field of psychology. She received her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in 2013, after earning a Bachelors Degree in psychology from Wilkes University.

Dr. Cannon works with teams and athletes at all different levels in their careers across the country. She has worked with individual athletes and teams at schools such as Old Dominion University, Bucknell University, University of Pittsburgh, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Duquense University, and many more.

The team at Mind of the Athlete have been highlighted numerous times in the media. Recently, Dr. Cannon appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter with Zubin Mehenti as an expert on sports psychology (see below).

Dr. Megan Cannon joins the cast of ESPN's flagship program Sports Center to discuss the actions of Kyle Lowry after he left Game 2 early in the 1st half against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

During her time at Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Cannon had the opportunity to work in the Sport Psychology Program within the university’s Sports Medicine Clinic. She gained experience providing performance coaching and individual therapy to college student athletes, along with completing presentations and team-building activities with collegiate, high school, and youth club teams. Dr. Cannon also administered the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT 2.0) program to assess athletes’ baseline and post-concussive cognitive functioning and assisted in establishing return-to-play decisions. This topic was the focus of our discussion in this episode. Below is an outline of our talking points:

Dr. Cannon's athletic and dance background
Importance of staying connected/engaged while injured
Why it's important to think of concussions as injuries of function not structure
The effectiveness of baseline testing
- Methods of administration and why it's important
Necessary academic accommodations to maximize recovery
Return to play progressions
How to utilize the benefits of exercise for mood without exacerbating symptoms
Preventing feelings of isolation
Overcoming the fear of returning to play
Helping athletes put things in perspective with piling up school work and and missing games
What to do when people don’t believe your symptoms or think you are "faking it"
Preston Plevretes story (see below)
Managing uncontrollable emotions
The importance of athletic trainers
CTE vs. Loss of Identity, what's worse?
Importance of goal adjustment

"I could have sat out for a season, but now I will sit out the rest of my life"

The Preston Plevretes story has always been a special one to me. We both suffered from second impact syndrome because we hid signs of concussions (headaches) and returned to play too soon. I remember seeing this video for the first time in my sophomore year at Rutgers University after my friend Liam sent me the link. Up to that point, I had never heard of any other athletes who had survived from our injury. I got extremely emotional after watching this, and honestly felt a little guilty because of the differences in our cognitive outcomes. There are two things I will never forget about this E:60.

Because we didn't sit out for our concussions, we now sit out for the rest of out lives. I want every athlete to understand the magnitude of this statement. Although it is important to focus on what you CAN do after injuries, there are plenty of fun things I can't do because I didn't listen to my body on October 5th, 2007. I say this because Second Impact Syndrome is 100% preventable if you give your brain sufficient time to recover after the initial concussion.
Preston states that he wants to learn how to speak well enough again so that he can prevent other athletes from making the same mistake that we made, which was the decision to play with a concussion. Although I can't play football anymore and need to avoid situations where I can hit my head, I have very few limitations from my injury. I was one of the lucky ones. This is one of the main reason's why I started the podcast, which is to be the voice for athletes like Preston who weren't as lucky as I was. I pray that athletes learn from our mistakes in this podcast. I hope it helps to extend their careers long into the future, and for those whose careers are cut short due to any of life's circumstances, I hope it provides you with a roadmap toward success and achievement in other endeavors.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MIND OF THE ATHLETE?

Website |BOOK | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | LINKEDIN

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW DR. CANNON?

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 49 : iTunes | Stitcher

0 Likes

Permalink

48 : Dr. Julie Amato, Sports Psychologist, Mental & Emotional Struggles of Injury Recovery

Kevin Saum — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 22:49:23 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales Podcast we start a 4-part educational series with the team from Mind of The Athlete in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They understand that sports are emotional and strive to improve the emotional health of athletes. The team at Mind of the Athlete aim to help athletes unlock there potential by equipping athletes with cutting edge sports psychology content, resources, and skills. Their mission is to help athletes thrive and they do so by providing the highest quality one-on-one coaching, team consulting, and speeches.

In episode 48 we hear from Dr. Julie Amato who was an elite athlete herself. Dr. Amato is licensed as a psychologist in both Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, and is a member of the American Psychological Association. She Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Brown University in 1999 and a Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2005.

Relating to an athlete’s experiences is Dr. Amato’s forte. She was a record setting point guard for the women’s basketball team while at Brown. As a high school athlete, she lettered in four sports: basketball, tennis, track and field, and softball. She was featured on ESPN’s Scholastic Sports America in 1994. She was an all-state athlete in PA, holds multiple school records, captained many teams to championship seasons, and is in several athletic halls of fame. Dr. Amato obviously understands the high performance mindset of athletes.

During our conversation, we focus our discussion on the mental and emotional struggles athletes are confronted with while recovering from an injury and watching their team's go on without them from the sideline. Below are some of the topics we discuss:

Dr. Julie Amato, Sports Psychologist at Mind of the Athlete discusses the struggle of performance anxiety and how to overcome it.

Performance anxiety on the return
Tools to combat performance anxiety
- Normalizing the emotions they feel
- Put yourself around people you care about
- Its okay to let the emotions out
- Get out in the sun
Stages of coping
- Why me?
- Identity crisis
- Denial
- It’s a huge loss
- Recovery process is like a roller coaster
The problem with how athletes are put on a pedestal in this country and are highly valued members in our culture.
Importance of finding a hobby outside of your sport to derive value.
- Rare
Continue to find new challenges.
- A new competitive outlet
How to reframe your thoughts in your recovery.
What roles do teammates, coaches and family members play during an athletes recovery.
- Need to include the injured athletes as much as possible.
Why knowledge is power when you return to play.
- Focusing on what you do know vs what you don’t.
How coaches should talk to their team about their injured teammates and cultivate environment where it is okay to say when you are hurt.
How the Headspace meditation app can help you be more present and why that is important.

Stay tuned for next week's episode with Dr. Megan Cannon where we discuss tips for managing post concussion syndrome!

Where Can You Find Out More About Mind of The Athlete?

Book | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn

Where Can You Follow Dr. Amato?

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Download Episode 48 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

47 : Eric LeGrand, Don't Stop bELieving

Kevin Saum — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 03:08:33 +0000

Eric LeGrand was a defensive tackle at Rutgers University until he suffered a career ending spinal cord injury. Since then he has been signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, won the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2012 ESPYs, had his number 52 retired by the Rutgers Football team and was named the Most Influential Person in New Jersey Sports by the Star Ledger.

Eric's number retirement ceremony. The first and only number retired in school history.

It has been 6 years to the day since Eric LeGrand suffered a career-ending, and life-altering spinal cord injury while making a tackle on a kick-off late in the game against the Army Black Knights at Met Life stadium. I was on the sideline that game working as a student manager for the Rutgers football team. I had my eye off the field for a moment, but when I heard the impact and the roar from the crowd, I remember immediately turning around and seeing Eric on his back with his legs awkwardly raised in the air. There was a feeling of eeriness like I had never seen before as an athlete or spectator.

First on the scene, Athletic Trainers, Mike Pawlusiak (left) and Dave McCune (right). I can't stress the importance of Athletic Trainers enough!!!

When I learned that extent of the Eric's injury after the game, I didn't even know what to say or do. Eric's injury occurred in the middle of my darkest days recovering from my traumatic brain injury. I was constantly feeling bad for myself and struggling to find an identity outside of the sport of football. Eric's injury really hit home hard for me, because we both experienced the two of the worst possible things that could happen to you during a football game. A feeling of guilt quickly came over me during this time because I could still do things that Eric wished he could, like throw the football and lift weights, among a list of countless other things most of the world takes for granted.

This is a picture I took of the stadium and uploaded to Facebook before the game on October 16, 2010.

Eric's spirit was unmatched in the Rutgers football locker room. His absence had a huge impact on his teammates as they lost all the remaining games left on the schedule. One year after his injury, Eric lead the Scarlet Knights on to the field on a snowy October evening to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. That moment is one that will impact the rest of my life and I reference it in ever talk I give about my own story of perseverance. As he and his teammates made their way onto the field, Eric's signature ear-to-ear grin was captured in a picture, which was ultimately featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Body language is huge in the game of football. I remember having to count how many times we had our heads down while breaking down game film from the night before. Having your head down showed to the whole world that you had given up and that you were defeated. The coaches at Rutgers preached similar things during practice and looking back, I couldn't agree more. Below is a picture of me, post injury, at the coin toss of my team's last football game during my high school senior year (check out Episode 1 to hear my tale). How would you describe my body language? Personally, I see someone who looks like they are feeling bad for themselves, who has given up and who was defeated.

West Morris Central vs. Warren Hills, November 9, 2007, 43-0 Wolfpack

Looking back on the time between my injury and the night Eric returned to the field against West Virginia, I am embarrassed at how I acted. Fortunately, Eric inspired me to do good with the gifts I was given, not sulk over the ones that were taken away from me. This podcast is my attempt to prevent other athletes from acting and feeling how did by sharing stories of perseverance like Eric's.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to interview Eric, and although I was planning on making this my 52nd episode, I felt that posting today was a more appropriate time. Below are some talking points we cover:

Playing sports growing up and staying injury free
Concussions
How to handle position changes
The important role of special teams players
Leading up to his spinal cord injury
Moments after his spinal cord injury
Rehab/recovery
Defying the odds
Transition to life after football
Cool experiences he has had since his injury
Lessons learned from playing for coach Schiano
The meaning behind his many tattoos and if he feels them while he gets inked
Eric's thoughts on the kickoff in football

Be on the lookout for Eric's new show on Fox, "Mission Possible," where he also shares stories of perseverance!

As mentioned before, Eric and I suffered some of the most extreme injuries in sports. However, neither of us regret playing and don't want our stories to take an opportunity to play away from another kid. I hope this episode can add perspective and motivation to your life, it obviously did for me. I also recommend reading Eric's book which takes you through his life as a young kid and through his recovery. Reading it feels like you are sitting in a room talking to him. It had me laughing the whole time. Please show your support to Eric by making a donation at the link below.

Where can you find Eric?

DONATE | Booking | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | T witter

Where can you get a copy or Eric's Book, "Believe?"

Believe: My Faith and the Tackle That Changed My Life By Eric LeGrand, Mike Yorkey

Download Episode 47 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

46 : Mason Robinson, Former NFL Player, Learn How to Shock The World After 2 ACL Injuries

Kevin Saum — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 16:13:36 +0000

The speedy Mason Robinson was a highly recruited running back out of Somerville High School in New Jersey. Iowa, Boston College, Temple, Michigan State, Colorado, Maryland and Rutgers University all wanted Mason to play for their football team. One of the talking points in this episode is Mason's decision to be Ray Rice's protege at Rutgers University. Unfortunately, 2 ACL injuries altered the course of the football career he envisioned. Because of these injuries, Mason finished his time at Rutgers as a sixth year senior captain and was the team's fourth-string safety and special teams returner. This is not the typical resume of an NFL prospect, but Mason Robinson is not your typical athlete or man. After graduating from Rutgers, Mason spent time with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets. During our interview he tells some great stories about his time in the NFL and his strategy for not getting star-struck.

"Rutgers WR/RB Mason Robinson out for the year with knee injury"

-NJ.com, September 10, 2009

After tearing his first ACL in 2009 while making a cut on a run against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the season-opener, Mason struggled on many levels. While watching from the sidelines, Mason battled depression and was put on academic probation. In this episode he talks about how it feels when the text's after games stopped pouring in and how he ultimately turned things around. A couple strategies Mason used to battle back were positive self-talk and the creation of "Dream Posters." Listen to the interview to learn how to make your own poster!

"Rutgers cornerback Mason Robinson suffers season-ending knee injury"

-NJ.com, September 6, 2011

Two years later and now playing corner back for the Scarlet Knights, Mason tore the ACL in his other knee during a non-contact drill. This injury couldn't have come at a worse time because he finally got the nod from Coach Greg Schiano to get the start against North Carolina Central in week 1 of the 2011 season. This would have meant that he would be starting over current NFL players like Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon (New England Patriots). This time, Mason never let himself get into that "dark place" like he did after his first knee injury, even when coaches were doubting his chances. Listen to the episode to hear how he handled the adversity dealt to him for a second time.

"Mason Robinson savors sixth and final season at Rutgers"

-NJ.com, August 25, 2012

Being named captain during his 6th season at Rutgers football as the team's 4th string safety is probably not what Mason had in mind when he walked in to the locker room and put the scarlet red helmet on for the first time. However, graduating from Rutgers with a masters degree, a 3.75 GPA and making it to the NFL is a testament to Mason's character and work ethic. Mason's versatility (willingness and ability to play multiple positions) is a major contributing factor to his successful recovery. Many people don't know that Mason was a third-string running back in high school when he received his first college scholarship offer. At every level, he made the most of every opportunity he was given, every time he stepped on the field. It didn't matter if he was playing running back, corner, safety or kick/punt returner. Mason also credits his success to his knack for being a student of the game and gives some strategies for watching film for young athletes.

Mason overcame a lot of adversity before he worked himself back to running a 4.27 40-yard dash and and to picking-off my favorite football player of all-time, Tim Tebow, in a pre-season game against the New England Patriots. This blog post doesn't give justice to how jacked up I was after recording this interview, so do yourself a favor and give it a listen whether you're injured or not. I promise you will be left feeling like you can and will SHOCK THE WORLD.

Mason is now training and mentoring upcoming athletes in the NJ area through his "Shock The World" company. I have no doubt you will want to work with him after listening to this episode (links below).

WHERE CAN YOU FIND MAson?

website | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | Youtube

Download Episode 46 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

45 : Book Review, "Shaken" by Tim Tebow, Discovering Your True Identity In The Midst of Life's Storms

Kevin Saum — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 01:06:09 +0000

A few months ago I received an email about applying to be on the launch team for Tim Tebow's new book called Shaken. When I saw the book was about "discovering your true identity in the midst of life's storms" I knew this was something Heads 'N Tales listeners had to get their hands on. Fortunately, I was chosen to be on the launch team and I finished reading my advanced copy of the book last week. Before I get into my thoughts on the book, it's important to get some background on where I am coming from and what my religious views are.

Playing catch with Tim during Jets training camp in 2012

To say that I am a Tim Tebow fan is an understatement. I joined the Tebow bandwagon back in 2008 when he and Florida Gators lost to Ole Miss but went on to win the rest of their games, which included the SEC championship over top-ranked Alabama and the national championship game against Sam Bradford’s Oklahoma team. The wins and the Heisman Trophy weren't what sparked my interest in Tim, it was the speech, later called The Promise, that he made to the media following that loss to Ole Miss (featured below). Many critics called him a cry baby, but I saw it differently. I saw a guy who wanted it more than anyone else out on the field. A guy who had a passion for the game that reminded me of my own and a guy that was just plain-old fun to watch.

When Tim was at the highest of highs winning national championships and a Heisman trophy, I was at my personal lowest of lows. The fall of 2008 was the first time I couldn't play football in over a decade (check out episode 1 to learn about my story). I went from being a National Honor Society student in high school to being put on academic probation during my first semester at Rutgers. I was insecure because I was no longer viewed as an athlete, nor did anyone care that I ever was. This feeling had a huge impact on my relationships at the time and on my confidence. I looked to Tim as someone who achieved everything that I ever dreamt of as a kid and never thought he would ever feel the way I did at that moment. I watched the documentary on Tim which showcase his journey to the NFL called Everything In Between about 100 times (featured below, a must watch!) and obviously read his first book, Through My Eyes. I connected to Tim's drive, work ethic and ability to silence all his haters time and time again. Despite all this, I never thought he would ever have to feel the pain I felt after I was told I could never set foot on a football field ever again. I missed playing more than anything in the world, but“what do you do when something that has defined you your entire life is gone?” This is a question that Tim answer's in his new book because he now does know how I felt.

Although I am obviously a biased fan of Tim Tebow, I am nowhere near on the same level as Tim's religious views. As far as my religious beliefs go, I am a confirmed catholic who only goes to church on Christmas Eve with my grandmother. I believe in higher power, but I am still not exactly sure what that means to me.

Shaken is definitely heavier on religion side than Through My Eyes, but I felt it was tastefully done in such a way that anyone, religious or not, could enjoy and use the messages written in the book. I thought Shaken was a perfect book for someone like me because it features practical wisdom from Scripture and insights gained from both Tim and other inspiring individuals. To put it bluntly, I never felt like I was having the bible forced down my throat. Tim does a great job describing how one can use religion to help them overcome any of life's obstacles and discover a new identity.

Below is my abbreviated take on the book:

Release Date : October 25, 2016

Pages: 224

Difficulty: Easy read/short chapters (my favorite)

Readers will get behind the scenes insights like the "Tebowing" phenomenon, decision to not change position away from playing quarterback, injuries and relationships with coaches and teammates just to name a few.

Top 3 likes:

Tim’s vulnerability (not perfect)
Explanations, personal stories and other peoples stories to drive points home.
Relate-ability, ex. It is normal to question God’s plan, even Tim does sometimes.

Top 3 Learning Points:

Value of finding your Identity in God because everything else is temporary.
- “What do you do when something that has defined you your entire life is gone?”
Finding the courage to take a stand for something/anything!
- Healing yourself along the way and getting messages from God
Fighting the urge to compare yourself to other people
- Tom Brady example
- Social media highlight reels
- Just be the best you!

Favorite quote:

“Think about what would be if there was no God. Instead of there being purpose in the pain, pain is meaningless.”

If you are a fan of the podcast, you will be a fan of this book! I already find myself using some of the tools Tim teaches in Shaken.

WHERE CAN YOU get your own Copy of shaken?

Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms By Tim Tebow

Download Episode 45: iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

44 : JC Egbert, Collegiate Golfer Whose Career Was Anything But Par For the Course

Kevin Saum — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 18:08:45 +0000

From left to right: JC Egbert, Carla Egbert (JC's Mom), Jonathan Hudak (JC's Performance Coach)

This week we hear from former Gettysburg College golfer JC Egbert, his mother Carla and his performance coach at Parabolic Performance and Rehab, Jonathan Hudak. In the fall of 2009, JC suffered from what doctors believe was a swine flu-induced cardiac arrest episode, which left him with an anoxic brain injury (similar to a stroke). This incident occurred only two weeks into his first semester at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. JC obviously does not remember a lot from this incident, so Carla Egbert helps tell the tale of the steps taken to save JC's life. Carla's input gives us a unique perspective on the story and stresses the importance of staying positive even when doctors give an unfavorable diagnosis.

Carla and her family's positive thinking paid off because the hospital JC was transported to in York Pennsylvania not only had an ECMO machine, but it was a portable ECMO machine (very rare) that could travel with JC via helicopter to University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Fortunately, JC survived this ordeal, but was left with a drop foot and other physical limitations similar to those of stroke survivors. JC has had to re-learn how to walk and talk and it took him close to three years after his injury to get back on the golf course. Prior to suffering the anoxic brain injury JC was a 2-handicap golfer. JC has been playing golf since he was 5 years old and we talk about how hard and frustrating it has been for him to struggle to get back to that elite level of play.

Below is a video of how JC has adapted his golf swing because of his drop foot. JC, a natural lefty like his favorite golfer Phil Mickelson, now swings with only has right hand and holds a cane in his left hand for balance.

JC is still rehabbing with an occupational therapist, his swing coach and with his performance coach Jon Hudak. He is also taking on-line classes at Southern New Hampshire University and actually finds school easier now than he did before his injury.

Jonathan Hudak, CSCS, FMS, also joined us in this interview and talked about how far JC is come from when he first started training at Parabolic and what they have been working on together most recently. Jon and JC work on pulling heavy kettle bells, pushing the sled, walking without a cane and getting up and down from the ground, just to name a few. He also taught us about the sport specific attributes elite golfers need in terms of strength, balance, coordination and timing. Jonathan completed a Masters’ in Exercise Science from Ithaca in 2007 before interning and working under multi-directional speed specialist Lee Taft. He spent 2008-2009 training independently before acting as assistant strength and conditioning coach at RPI in Troy, NY. In 2012 he moved to Fairfield County, CT and managed the fitness division in the Stamford office of Moore, PT & Fitness before coming on to Parabolic in August of 2015.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Jon Hudak AND PARABOLIC PERFORMANCE & REHAB?

W EBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Y OUTUBE | INSTAGRAM

Download Episode 44: iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

43 : Danny DeLorenzi, Columbia University D-Lineman Talks About the Pain of Watching From the Sideline

Kevin Saum — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 01:46:21 +0000

When I first walked into Parabolic Performance & Rehab in Little Falls, NJ for this interview, there was a massive human being running sprints on the treadmill, but he took the time to stop, shake my hand, look me in the eye and say "Nice to meet you, Sir." Once I got over the initial shock of being called "Sir" for the first time in my life, I made a fist to make sure my hand wasn't broken. Fortunately for me, it wasn't broken and my chances of running the football against Daniel (Danny) DeLorenzi and the Columbia defense is 0. To say the least, I was immediately impressed by both Danny's size, respectfulness and intelligence. Mr. and Mrs. DeLorenzi, you did a fine job raising this young man.

Danny is currently a 6'2", 245lb freshman defensive lineman on the Columbia University football team. Before accepting his offer from the Columbia football team, Danny actually committed to the Princeton wrestling team, which is further proof of his talents. Based on what you have read so far, you might be thinking that it seems like Danny is living the dream right now, but this is the Heads 'N Tales podcast, so you know his road to success wasn't without its challenges. Going into his Junior year at NJ football powerhouse, Bergen Catholic, Danny fractured his lumbar spine (S1), during an offseason workout which consisted of power cleans (admittedly with poor form) and sprints. In this episode, we learn about the importance of having patience in your recovery and Danny gives us some tips for when injuries force us to be on the sidelines on cold Friday nights.

Dr. Danielle Clarke, Physical Therapist at Parabolic joins us again on this episode and she talks about the work her and Danny did to get him back on the field safely. Dr. Clarke explains the importance of educating her patients on their injuries and the "why" behind every exercise. We also have some interesting discussions about the variance of athlete personalities between sports, specifically football and wrestling. We also talk about the definition of "toughness" and what makes someone tough and both Danny and Dr. Clarke tell us who the toughest people they know are.

Danny took fourth place in the N.J. State Championships at 195 pounds his junior season at Bergen Catholic and had an offer to wrestle at Princeton University.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Danny?

H udl | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

WHERE CAN YOU FIND DR. CLARKE AND PARABOLIC PERFORMANCE & REHAB?

W EBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Y OUTUBE | INSTAGRAM

Download Episode 43: iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

42 : Logan Hutsko, USA Hockey Center Talks About Overcoming Cervical Spine Fracture

Kevin Saum — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:28:29 +0000

Logan Hutsko is an elite US Hockey Prospect and is committed to play at Boston College in 2018. He recently overcame a cervical spine fracture (C6) that he suffered while taking a face-off when his head went into his opponent's chest. Logan said that he immediately felt tingling, numbness and weakness throughout his body, particularly when he was trying to shoot the puck. However, Logan brushed it off and went on to participate in 1 game, 3 practices and 2 lifts before he got an MRI. The mental toughness he developed from playing the sport since he was 3 years old and from his father who was a football player influenced him to "tough it out."

When Logan finally got an MRI on his neck, the scan showed a C6 vertebrae fracture that could easily have left him paralyzed. Logan was obviously forced to sit-out after this diagnosis and in the interview he discusses the emotional tole it took on him to watch his team go on without him and process the possibility of never being able to play again. He credits his coaches for keeping him engaged and continuing to improve his game off the ice by watching film on some of the best players in the world. During this depressive state, Logan came across the video below and it helped change his outlook on his recovery process. Honestly, I wish I saw this 9 years ago when I suffered my career ending brain injury. Trust me, it is worth the 7 minutes of your time.

Logan is now back to playing hockey for the US National Team in the Developmental Program, but when he returned he struggled to regain his confidence and admitted to initially playing scared. Dr. Danielle Clarke ("The best Physical Therapist I have ever had" - Logan Hutsko) from Parabolic Performance & Rehab in Little Falls, NJ helped Logan get back on the ice and regain confidence in his body and in his game. Dr. Clarke joins us in this episode and explains the clinical side of diagnosing and treating Logan's injury. She also talks about her own athletic career, injuries she overcame and her transition to life after sports.

Dr. Danielle Clarke graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.A. in Communication Studies and received her clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Seton Hall University. She was a NCAA Division 1 scholarship athlete and a captain of the University of Rhode Island Gymnastics team. During her time at Seton Hall, Danielle interned at the Steadman Hawkins Denver Clinic where she had the opportunity to work with a variety of active individuals and athletes of all levels. Dr. Clarke combines her extensive knowledge of orthopedic rehabilitation with her Division 1 athletic background to develop a comprehensive understanding of athletic motion and functional efficiency to improve patient outcomes.

WHERE CAN YOU Find LOGAN?

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

WHERE CAN YOU FIND DR. CLARKE AND PARABOLIC PERFORMANCE & REHAB?

W EBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Y OUTUBE | INSTAGRAM

Download Episode 42: iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

41: Dr. Robert Huggins + Richard Dodakian, Exertional Heat Stroke, Korey Stringer Institute Series, Part 4/4

Kevin Saum — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 21:01:55 +0000

As training camps and summer come to a close, so does our 4-part heat stroke educational series with the staff at the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI). If you haven't already done so, I recommend you go back and listen to Episode 38, 39, and 40 before diving into this one.

In episode 41 we hear from Dr. Robert Huggins who serves as both Vice President of Research and Athlete Health & Safety at KSI. His responsibilities include the supervision, management, and coordination of research initiatives currently conducted by KSI specifically those initiatives supported by the National Football League and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association.

Furthermore, Rob conducts performance testing on athletes who are looking to enhance their performance through the use of scientific insights. Rob has been a licensed Athletic Trainer since 2007 and has experience at mass medical events such as the Falmouth Road Race (Where he met Richard Dodakian, Below), Boston Marathon, and Marine Corps Marathon where he has treated more than 35 cases of exertional heat stroke. Prior to his role at KSI, he started the club sports Athletic Training Programs at both Sacred Heart University and the University of Connecticut.

During our interview, Dr. Huggins tells us about what it's like to be in the board room at the NFL headquarters with Roger Goodell. What he has to say about the commissioner might surprise you if you are as easily influenced by the national media outlets as I am. Dr. Huggins also discusses the details of proper heat acclimatization, the economic benefits of employing athletic trainers and the fine line between over-training and over-reaching.

Pictured: Richard Dodakian and his daughter. Their family runs in the Falmouth Road Race every year and has become not only a family tradition, but also a motivator to stay in shape.

Lastly, we hear from a heat stroke survivor named Richard Dodakian (1:00:30) who credits Dr. Huggins for saving his life back in 2013. Richard is the oldest athlete we heard from during this series and is probably the easiest to relate to for the parents in the audience. Like most hard-working adults, Richard has a full-time job in addition to his training, unlike some of the division-1 football players we heard from earlier in the series.

Richard has run the same Falmouth Road Race every year following his 2013 bout with exertional heat stroke. Richard learned the hard way, but he cautions aging athletes that they are not infallible and to be more cautious with your training and preparation. He is thankful to have his wife serving as his conscience when he is pushing himself to the limits, as all successful athletes do. A couple factors that contributed to his exertional heat stroke were a lack of sleep before the race (Dr. Huggins explains the importance of sleep) and training at cooler times of the day leading up to the race.

Richard running this past weekend in the Falmouth Race, which is the same race he suffered exertional heat stroke back in 2013.

I would like to finish this post by thanking the Korey Stringer Institute for sharing your expert knowledge with us and making sports safer to play each and everyday. In addition, the athletes we interviewed over the past four episodes were extremely fortunate to have survived. Not everyone gets to have a chance at a comeback story. Ariel Newman died of exertional heat stroke at the age of 18 on September 10, 2014 while on a hiking trip in the Judean Desert. His parents and KSI worked together to create Ariel's Checklist in his honor to prevent future hikers from suffering from exertional heat stroke.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND DR. HUGGINS AND THE KSI STAFF?

W EBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Y OUTUBE

Download Episode 41 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

40 : Dr. Will Adams + Yuri Hosokawa, Exertional Heat Stroke, Korey Stringer Institute Series, Part 3/4

Kevin Saum — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 19:58:20 +0000

Welcome back to the Heads ‘N Tales Podcast. In case this is your first time listening to the show, we are in the middle of our 4 part educational series on exertional heat stroke and preventing sudden death in sports with the team at the Korey Stringer Institute. This series is different from most of our previous episodes where we interview athletes from all walks of life and hear their own personal tales of perseverance, so go back and check some of the other stories we feature on the show, I guarantee you will be left feeling inspired.

Episode 40 is part 3 of 4, so if you missed part one and two, I recommend that you go back and listen to Episode 38 and 39. In Episode 38 we not only learned about the history of the Korey Stringer Institute from KSI’s CEO, Dr. Douglas Casa, but we also learned the proper way to diagnose and treat the illness. In addition we heard Gavin Class’ amazing comeback story after he flat lined in the hospital and received a liver transplant due to complications from his heat stroke. In Episode 39, we heard from KSI’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Rebecca Stearns. Dr. Stearns taught us about the various educational resources KSI offers on multiple sports health & safety topics. She also shared her own tale of perseverance when she got back to running marathons after suffering from a DVT and pulmonary embolism. We also learn about the importance of hydration in preventing exertional heat stroke. We finished episode 39 hearing from Hunter Knighton who currently plays offensive line for the Miami Hurricanes, but is also the survivor of exertional heat stroke. He spent 12 days in a coma, lost 55 pounds and underwent surgery to repair paralyzed vocal chords. It took him close to 1.5 years to get back on the field. Make sure you take a listen to hear about his tremendous comeback that led to Hunter winning the Capital One Orange Bowl Courage Award after the 2015 season.

In Episode 40 we hear from Dr. Will Adams, Vice President of Sports Safety and Yuri Hosokawa who is both the Director of Communication and the director of Education at the Korey Stringer Institute.

Dr. Adams' responsibilities at KSI include helping state high school athletics associations adopt sport safety policies that meet evidence-based best practices. His clinical experience includes collegiate athletics, secondary school athletics, and mass medical events such as the Boston Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon and the infamous Falmouth Road Race. His research interests include thermoregulation, heat illness, hydration, maximizing sport performance, and the education of preventing sudden death in sport. His recent work has focused on timing considerations in the treatment of exertional heat stroke patients, the treatment, recovery, and return-to-activity from exertional heat stroke, and the effects of hydration and cooling on changes in body temperature during and after intense exercise in the heat. Dr. Adams received his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009 and a master’s degree in Exercise Science at the University of Connecticut in 2012.

Yuri Hosokawa serves as the Director of Communication and Education at the KSI. She coordinates the communication and public relation division of the KSI. Without her tremendous efforts, these podcast episodes would not have been possible. THANKS YURI! Her research interests include prevention and education of sudden death in sport, establishing best practices in road race medicine, development of regional-specific heat guidelines and exploring the roles of genetics in the susceptibility of exertional heat strokes. She also serves as an athletic trainer for the Club Sports at the University of Connecticut. She continues to work internationally, serving as a science advisor for Sport Safety Japan, NPO. In this episode, she talks about the difference in athletic training coverage at athletic events between the U.S. and Japan. Ms. Hosokawa received her bachelor’s degree in Sport Sciences from the Waseda University in 2011 and her master’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Arkansas in 2013.

Yuri and Dr. Adams dive deep into the historical statistics and trends in heat acclimatization policy and also some of the obstacles that they come across regionally throughout the united states when it comes to policy adoption. Yuri also tells the tale of a young athlete named Logan Johnson who survived heat stoke and worked with the KSI staff to get back to playing basketball. The trend of highly motivated athletes pushing themselves to the limits comes up again in this story.

Next week in the 4th and final episode in this series we talk with Dr. Robert Huggins, Vice President of Research and Athlete Health & Safety at the KSI and an athlete who credits him with saving his life at the 2013 Falmouth Road Race.

Where can you find Dr. Adams, Yuri and the KSI staff?

W EBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Y OUTUBE

Download Episode 40 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

39 : Dr. Rebecca Stearns + Hunter & Savannah Knighton, Exertional Heat Stroke, Korey Stringer Institute Series, Part 2/4

Kevin Saum — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 17:01:48 +0000

We continue our Korey Stringer Institute Heat Stroke education series in episode 39. This is part 2 of 4, so if you missed part one go back and listen to Episode 38 with Dr. Douglas Casa, CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute and survivor of exertional heat stroke. In Episode 38 we not only learned about the history of the Korey Stringer Institute, but we also learned the proper way to diagnose and treat the illness. In addition we heard Gavin Class’ amazing comeback story after he flat lined in the hospital and received a liver transplant due to complications from his heat stroke.

In Episode 39, we hear from KSI’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Rebecca Stearns. Dr. Stearns talks about the various educational resources KSI offers on multiple sports health & safety topics. She also shares her own tale of perseverance when she got back to running marathons after suffering from a DVT and pulmonary embolism. We also focus on the importance of hydration in preventing exertional heat stroke. You will find LITERALLY anything you could possibly want to know about hydration and fluid replacement from the link in the last sentence! Here is the specific link for calculating sweat rate as we discussed in the interview.

One of KSI’s interns and current LSU Athletic Training Student, Savannah Knighton also joined us in this interview and she tells the tale of her brother Hunter’s exertional heat stroke. We also hear from Hunter himself, who is currently fighting for a starting position on the Miami Hurricanes Offensive line. This part can be found at the 35:00 minute mark. Dr. Stearns worked directly with Hunter to ensure his safe return to football down in the hot south florida weather. Having the three of these very different perspectives makes for a very interesting episode and I hope you not only enjoy their stories, but also learn about how the culture of toughness in sports can even have an effect on decision making for some of the best athletic trainers in the game. USA Today wrote a great story on Hunter's recovery and the work he did with the KSI staff (Click Here)

The Korey Stringer Institute has countless resources on their website to keep athletes safe, which include Concussion, Heat Acclimatization, Automated External Defibrillators and Emergency Action Plan Policies just to name a few. Links to these and other resources can be found at ksi.uconn.edu.

Hunter Knighton currently plays offensive line for the Miami Hurricanes, but he is lucky to have survived his exertional heat stroke. He spent 12 days in a coma, lost 55 pounds and underwent surgery to repair paralyzed vocal chords. It took him close to 1.5 years to get back on the field. This tremendous feat led to Hunter winning the Capital One Orange Bowl Courage Award after the 2015 season. Hunter explains the how a fever contributed to the perfect storm that caused his heat stroke. He also talks about his gut-feeling of knowing that he shouldn't have been practicing that day and even some of his teammates noticed something was off about him. Just like with concussions, teammates need to look out for their buddies both on and off the field. In my opinion thats one of the only ways to combat the culture of toughness in sports. In the second half of the episode, Hunter and I talk about a variety of topics in addition to the heat stroke and these include:

Coming back from shoulder surgery (pre-heat stroke)
Adjusting to the speed of the game in Division 1 football
Athletes in Action
Hospital hallucinations

WHERE CAN YOU FIND DR. Stearns AND THE KOREY STINGER INSTITUTE?

W EBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Y OUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Hunter KNighton?

FACEBOOK

Download Episode 39 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

38 : Dr. Douglas Casa + Gavin Class, Exertional Heat Stroke, Korey Stringer Institute Series Part 1/4

Kevin Saum — Sun, 31 Jul 2016 18:19:05 +0000

Dr. Douglas Casa, CEO Korey Stringer Institute, Survivor of Exertional Heat Stroke

As hot summer training camps open for fall sports, I felt that it was the perfect time to roll out our 4-part educational interview series in collaboration with the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) at the University of Connecticut on exertional heat stroke and preventing sudden death in sports. In August 2001, Korey Stringer, a Pro-Bowl offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings, passed away from exertional heat stroke. Since the time of Korey’s death, his wife, Kelci, worked tirelessly to develop an exertional heat stroke prevention institute to honor her husband’s legacy. To that end, she joined forces with exertional heat stroke expert Dr. Douglas Casa at the University of Connecticut to make this dream a reality and the institute came to fruition in April 2010.

KSI's mission is to provide research, education, advocacy and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety and prevent sudden death for the athlete, soldier and laborer, which is directly aligned with the mission of this podcast. KSI serves the needs of active individuals and athletes at all levels – youth, high school, college, professional, people who are physically active, recreational athletes – and those who supervise and care for these individuals. Components of these services include: consultations, advocacy, education, research, athlete testing, and mass-market outreach.

In episode 38 (part 1/4) of the Heads ‘ N Tales podcast we start off by talking with KSI’s CEO, Dr. Douglas Casa, whose passion for the study of exertional heat stroke started in 1985 when he suffered an exertional heat stroke while running a 10K race. Since 1999, Dr. Casa has worked toward his goal of preventing sudden death in sport at the University of Connecticut, Department of Kinesiology. During this time he has published more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and presented more than 350 times on subjects related to exertional heat stroke, heat-related illnesses, preventing sudden death in sport, and hydration. Dr. Casa has successfully treated more than 167 (and counting) cases of exertional heat stroke.

Dr. Casa is the 2008 recipient of the medal for distinguished athletic training research from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He was named a fellow of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2008. He received the Sayers “Bud” Miller Distinguished Educator Award from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in 2007 and has been a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine since 2001. He has been a lead or co-author on numerous sports medicine (ACSM, NATA) position statements related to heat illness and hydration.

Dr. Casa has worked with numerous media outlets across the country in discussing his research including the NBC Today Show, ESPN, CNN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Dr. Casa earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Allegheny College, in 1990; his master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Florida in 1993; and his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Connecticut in 1997.

In this episode, Dr. Casa provides us with some background on the Korey Stringer Institute, shares his tale of exertional heat stroke, teaches about the signs, symptoms and appropriate treatment of exertional heat stroke. Lastly he shares the story of former Towson Football Player, Gavin Class who nearly lost his life to exertional heat stroke and worked with the KSI Staff to get back on the field. We also hear from Gavin in a separate interview to learn about the obstacles he faced in his recovery and what his transition to life after sports was like. This part of episode 38 can be found at 00:54:11.

Gavin was a 6'4'', 305 lb offensive lineman at Towson University who was benching 440 lbs and squatting 525 lbs before suffering heat stroke during training camp in August of 2013. This goes to show that even when you are in the best shape of your life, you are not invincible. Gavin had to have 12 subsequent surgeries, including a liver transplant, to save his life and at one point he even flatlined. After getting out of the hospital, Gavin worked with Dr. Casa and the staff at the Korey Stringer institute in an attempt to get back on the field. However, he was never able to get clearance to play by the Townson University Doctor, despite passing all of the rigorous heat acclimatization testing performed by KSI. His story was featured on ESPN's Outside the Lines (Below) and Dr. Casa is also featured in this segment. Gavin also discusses his transition to life after sports and how he found comfort in understanding God's plan for him. Lastly, Gavin gives me one of my favorite definitions of perseverance to date, so give it a listen!

Where can you find Dr. Casa and the Korey Stinger Institute?

W EBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | Y OUTUBE

Where Can you find Gavin Class?

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

Download Episode 38 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

37 : Brett Wycinski, Former College Football Player, Survivor of Second Impact Syndrome

Kevin Saum — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 16:36:19 +0000

As you might know by looking at our logo, the number 37 is special to me and I couldn’t think of a more perfect interview for the 37th episode. This week I talk with Brett Wycinski, who like me, suffered second impact syndrome while playing football in an inter-squad scrimmage during his senior year at Walsh University. In case you don’t know what second impact syndrome is, it happens when an athlete suffers a concussion and as a result, has post concussion symptoms, which in our case was a severe headache. Before this symptoms resolve, the athlete suffers a second and often unremarkable blow to the head or body and receives a second concussion. This second impact can cause massive brain swelling an hemorrhaging. The survival rate is around 50% with the morbidity rate being around 100%. The fact this conversation between the two of us is happening is nothing short of a miracle.

Brett’s concussion symptoms and obstacles during recovery were nearly identical to mine. We both hid our symptoms in an attempt to be “tough” and this mindset is ultimately what got us both into trouble. Our message to athletes isn’t to stop playing sports or to play scared, rather it is to be open and honest about how you are feeling because no body knows that better than you. In this episode, you will learn why this way of thinking is also important from a mental and emotional perspective when your sport is taken away from you either temporarily or permanently. Throughout the entire episode we compare war stories and offer ideas to prevent other athletes from making the same mistake we did.

Lastly, the Heads ‘N Tales podcast is brought to you by you. We are now selling Heads ‘N Tales trucker hats and t-shirts to help with travel and equipment costs to help us to continue to bring inspiring tales each week (pictures below). I am working on creating a shop page on the website, but in the meantime, If you enjoy the podcast and want to help out, I can coordinate the sale via email at kevin@headsntales.org or via a direct message on Instagram or Facebook. Thanks for the support and we have some exciting educational interviews lined up, which includes a 4part series with the Mind of the Athlete Sport psychology group coming in September and another 4-part series with members from the Korey Stringer Institute on preventing sudden death in sport with an emphasis on preventing exertional heat stroke.

T-shirt, Muscle Tank & Hat $20 Each

Where can you Find brett?

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Download Episode 37 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

36 : Tyson Hartnett, Former Pro Basketball Player, Author, Finding an Identity Outside Your Sport

Kevin Saum — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 21:03:15 +0000

Tyson Hartnett is a former Division-1 and Division-3 College basketball player at The University of Maine and Rowan University respectively. After his collegiate career he played professionally in Sweden, Argentina and Chile (which took some major balls). Like many athletes, Tyson completely immersed himself the the sport of basketball from a very young age. Tyson's intense dedication to basketball is the source of both his success and at times his failures throughout his career. Like many athletes (and myself) Tyson, struggled during time spent away from basketball and at times felt like he was worthless with out the athlete identity.

To prevent athletes from making the same mistakes he made and to help them in their transition to life after sports, he wrote the book "Hoop Dreams Fulfilled." This book is a detailed, first-person account of an athlete's failures and struggles on his way to playing professional basketball. Through in-depth experiences, Tyson Hartnett describes his journey playing basketball starting in 4th grade, through high school, college, and eventually professionally overseas. He profiles his mistakes and failures, and his eventual redemption.

This isn't just a book about an athlete achieving his goals. It's about the worst things Tyson experienced so younger athletes can learn from him. It's about what happens when an athlete is so focused on their sport that they don't care about anything else in life, and the repercussions of that mindset. Hoop Dreams Fulfilled touches on deep, intense sports psychology, and the weight and pressure many athletes feel but are afraid to talk about. Tyson recaps his failures in raw detail so others can learn from them.

Tyson was kind enough to send me a signed copy of the book, which I read prior to our interview. I was really able to connect to his struggle finding and identity at the end of a sports career. Tyson also hosts a podcast called "Athlete Minded", which has very similar interviews and messages to Heads 'N Tales, so we decided to interview each other! This episode was posted on Athlete Minded last week! During our dual podcast interview, Tyson and I talk about girls, the benefits of psychologists, struggles of getting playing time and traveling to foreign lands, just to name a few. This is by far the most I have opened up in an interview, so definitely check it out!

Lastly, many times throughout his book, Tyson talks about his love for reading and during the interview he lists some of his favorites, some of which are linked-up below:

"The Charge" by Brendan Burchard
"On the Road" by Jack Kerouac

Where can you find Tyson?

Book | Athlete Minded | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | Huffington Post

Download Episode 36 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

35 : Harley Taich, Pro Surfer & Author of "Heads Up!" A Concussion Book For Children

Kevin Saum — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 17:26:58 +0000

Harley Taich is a professional surfer who overcame a severe case of post-concussion syndrome and depression after wiping out in a competition back in 2011. This was just after reaching her goal of earning a spot on the USA Surfing team as a 15 year old until this concussion ended her competitive surfing career. She recently authored a concussion book for children called “Heads Up! The Story of Finn and Reef." The book educates children about concussions, healing, and most importantly about acceptance, which is something she’s struggled with during her recovery. Her compelling story has also been featured in Seventeen Magazine and I know it will also resonate with our listeners.

In episode 35, Harley takes us through her journey to surfing stardom which started from a very early age. Before talking about her concussion we discussed some common injuries in the sport of surfing and what health and safety measures are taken to take care of the athletes during competitions. Most injuries in the sport come from accidental contact with the board, specifically the fins. This contact generally results in skin lacerations.

Harley suffered from a seemingly endless list of post-concussion symptoms after her accident in 2011. These symptoms forced her out of school and left her feeling depressed, isolated and hopeless. She tried nearly every treatment and remedy to no avail, which ultimately brought her to a point where she contemplated taking her own life. However, Harley found the inner-strength and courage to fight through her symptoms. She did this through acceptance of her injury and a willingness to give up the one thing she loved most, the water, for what turned out to be an entire year. During this time, Harley devoted a lot of her energy to researching nutritional choices, which contributed to improving her symptoms. Recipes that she has developed can be found on her blog, which is listed in the links at the bottom of the page.

If you have kids or know of kids who could benefit from Harley's book, you can purchase a copy of "Heads Up!" using the link below. Experience is the best teacher.

Where Can You Find Harley?

H EADS UP! | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | BLOG

Download Episode 35 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

34 : Chuck Dibilio, Ivy League Football Rushing Record Holder & Stroke Survivor

Kevin Saum — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 22:50:26 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast I traveled down to Princeton University to interview Chuck Dibilio. I asked my friend Cory Weissman (Episode 6) to join me for this interview because, like Chuck, he is also a stroke survivor. Chuck went from breaking Ivy League Rushing Records, to being told he could never play football again when he suffered a life-threatening stroke after his freshman season. Prior to the stroke, Chuck became first Princeton player to earn Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors since 1983 and was named to the first-team All-Ivy League after finishing second in the Ivy League in rushing with 1,068 yards (6th best in Princeton History). It was only a couple of months after this impressive season that Chuck suffered the stoke that changed his life forever. It was interesting to have both Cory and Chuck's perspectives in the interview because they were affected by the strokes oppositely. Cory was effected physically through paralysis and Chuck struggled cognitively, especially with speech and writing.

Chuck gave us some great advice on finding an identity after your sport is taken away from you whether it is one game, a season or a career. In this episode Chuck specifically talks about the devastation and anger he felt when the team doctor told him he could never play football again. Chuck doesn't know where he would be today if it weren't for the work he did with Sport Psychologist, Dr. Jarrod Spencer (soon to be on the podcast). You can subscribe to Jarrod's blog through the link in the prior sentence. Specifically, Chuck talks about "Following the energy" in transitioning to a life without football. This means that you should search for things in the world that give you that feeling in your gut that football, or whatever sport, gave you. For Chuck (and myself), CrossFit gave him that feeling back.

Below is a documentary on Chuck's transition to life after football:

Before Chuck went to Princeton he was a stand-out athlete at Nazareth High School. Chuck earned second-team all-state honors at running back and rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a senior. In that season, he averaged 9.2 yards per carry and scored 32 touchdowns. Chuck's career numbers at Nazareth were 4,902 all-purpose, 4,366 rushing yards and scored 57 career touchdowns. It should come as no surprise that these stats earned Chuck nine school records and nine conference records. As Cory alluded to in the interview, Chuck also lettered in basketball and scored 1,375 career points and earned first-team all-conference and all-area honors. Chuck also put's the "dumb jock" stereotype to rest because he was also a member of the National Honor Society. I'm pretty sure graduating with a degree from Princeton University speaks for itself.

Lastly, Chuck's senior highlight tape is featured below. His athleticism, determination and work ethic are obvious though-out the clip, however it is the run at 4:23 that impresses me most. On this play it looks to be about 1st & 10 from the +12. Chuck receives a pitch and proceeds to run-over two defenders on his way to scoring a touchdown. We talked about situations like this during the interview, when everyone in the stadium knows you are getting ball and you have to find a way to breakthrough the defense and persevere. You can't choose the obstacles that come into you life, but you have the power to decide if you are going run them over before they do it to you. As one of my high school coaches would always say "Throw the first punch" (meaning, don't wait for a kick in the ass).

Download Episode 34 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

33 : Michael Burton, Former Rutgers Football Walk-On Turned NFL Fullback

Kevin Saum — Sun, 29 May 2016 16:51:19 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast I interview current Detroit Lions fullback, Michael Burton. Mike had just finished his rookie season with the Lions prior to this interview, but he certainly didn't have an easy road to the National Football League (NFL). Mike and I played football together at West Morris Central high school and shared the backfield (Mike was the running back and I was the fullback) in my senior season. It was obvious from the very beginning when Mike was called up to Varsity that there was something special about him. I actually remember his first play, which was at inside linebacker, where he caused a fumble upon making impact with the ball carrier. Trust me, our coach didn't let us forget that the freshman was out there making plays!

In addition to his natural playmaker instincts, Mike also had a work ethic that has never been matched by anyone I have ever met. I would often drive Mike home after practice and winter lifting sessions, but before we did we always had to get in an extra run or ab session in. It's no mistake that he got to where he is today.

West Morris Central:

Mike Burton was an All-State running back, team captain and state champion for the West Morris Central Wolfpack in 2009. Anyone who was friends with him, played against him or watched him play knew he was destined for bigger and better things. I can tell you from personal experience that it was a lot of fun to watch Mike play. His combination of toughness, athleticism and heart is evident on every run, catch and block he makes.

Below is Burton's highlight tape from high school. At 1:37, Mike pulled off one of the most athletic moves I have ever seen a football player pull in all my years of playing and spectating. I was in the stands for this game and after that punt return for a touchdown, I had no doubt he could not only play at Rutgers, but also had what it takes to play on Sunday's.

RUTGERS:

"Get off me little boy!"

Not only was I lucky enough to play with Mike in high school, but I was also fortunate enough to watch him for 4 seasons when I worked as a student equipment manager at Rutgers Football. I always dreamed of playing college football and watching Mike every Saturday was as close as I could get! Mike had multiple scholarship offers to division-one schools out of high school to play for teams like Lehigh, Towson and Maine. However, Mike chose to walk-on as a fullback at Rutgers University for Head Coach, Greg Schiano. I witnessed the hard work and dedication Mike put in to earn himself a scholarship and eventually be named a team captain. To this day, I have never met a more coachable or hard-working individual.

During his Rutgers playing days, Mike suffered an ankle injury that ended his junior season. In our interview, Mike had a great message for athletes who suffer season-ending injuries and that is "there is always something you can be doing to get better." Whether it is watching film, rehabbing or doing other modified exercises, there are plenty of opportunities to improve your game and become a better person, athlete or student.

Check out the video below where Burton is mic'd up at a Rutgers football practice. His intensity and drive on the field is second to none.

DETROIT:

All of Mike's hard work and countless hours in the weight room finally paid off when he was invited to the 2015 NFL combine, and was ultimately drafted in the 5th round by the Detroit Lions. Burton kept a diary with the Detroit Free Press, which chronicled his rookie season. Click the following links to see what is was like for Mike in his first year in Detroit.

Make sure you download episode 33 to find out what its like playing with some of the best NFL players around. In addition, I hope young athletes today can find inspiration from Mike's journey to achieve their dreams just like he did. Lastly, if you take anything from this episode, I hope its that you realize hard work actually can pay off.

ROOKIE DIARY WITH LIONS FULLBACK MICHAEL BURTON

LIONS ROOKIE DIARY : FIRST GAME EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME

LIONS ROOKIE DIARY : SUNDAY NIGHT GAMES ARE DIFFERENT

BURTON'S ROOKIE DIARY: CALDWELL SAYS STICK TOGETHER

ROOKIE DIARY: AFTER ROUGH WEEK, LIONS HAVE OPPORTUNITY

LIONS ROOKIE DIARY: GAME, HOLIDAY TRADITIONS ALTERED

ROOKIE DIARY: TAKING CARE OF BODY KEY TO AVOID HITTING WALL

LIONS ROOKIE DIARY: BURTON TAKES YOUR QUESTIONS

ROOKIE DIARY: 1ST YEAR A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR LIONS' BURTON

Check out the video below to see Mike's First NFL touchdown:

Where can you find Michael Burton?

Instagram | Twitter

Download Episode 33 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

32 : Raeanna Gutkowski, Former D-1 Volleyball Player, Survivor of Osteosarcoma

Kevin Saum — Sun, 22 May 2016 14:24:12 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast I interview Raeanna Gutkowski, who was a division-one athlete on the Marist College women's volleyball team until she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma after her freshman season. Raeanna and I both grew up in the town of Long Valley, NJ and attended West Morris Central High School at the same time. Osteosarcoma is a pediatric bone cancer that is often found in teenagers. Raeanna first knew something was wrong when she developed a nagging pain in her knee, especially when it was in full flexion (heel to butt). After trying to play through the pain, as most competitive athletes do, Raeanna finally went to the Marist Team doctor where they performed an MRI on her knee. What was initially thought to be a torn meniscus turned out to be a bone tumor that would change Raeanna's life forever.

Raeanna was forced to undergo intense chemotherapy treatments and eventually had to have a portion of her femur removed (as seen in the Xray below). Unfortunately, Raeanna had to overcome what seemed to be endless complications that were a result of her treatment. After her first dose of chemotherapy she came down with an often fatal disease called typhlitis and had to have part of her intestine removed. Throughout the entire interview, I kept waiting for the turning point in her story for when her condition began to improve, but it just never seemed to come (truly jaw-dropping). I also had a few complications from my head surgery, but mine paled in comparison to Rae's. Download this episode to hear all the details, it is truly amazing to see how healthy and happy Rae is today after what she has gone through.

Xray of Raeanna's Prosthetic Knee

In addition to Raeanna's story of overcoming cancer, we also talk about her transition to life after sports and how she has found a new passion as a spin instructor. I took one of her classes after part-one of our interview at the New York Sports Club in Hoboken, NJ. It quickly became obvious why Rae was such a successful athlete and was successful in beating cancer. Her drive, passion and determination are contagious and I hope this podcast episode is another way to spread her mindset. We also discussed some of the great opportunities she has received because of cancer and some of the amazing people she has met and been able to help along the way. Specifically Raeanna talks about her friend Clayton who is currently fighting the same cancer she beat.

Raeanna and her friend Clayton at Equinox's "Cycle for Survival" fundraiser.

Lastly, Raeanna talks about an organization called "Teen Cancer America" who aim to help hospitals and healthcare professionals bridge the gap between pediatric and adult oncology care. Teen Cancer America aims to educate and support hospitals and outpatient facilities in the development of specialized units for this age group. The units are a place just for teens and young adults where the cancer experience is understood and the importance of living life through the cancer journey is nourished. Below is a video on their mission.

Download Episode 32 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

31 : Brian Bond, Secret Agent, Former Pro Football Player, ACL Recovery Expert

Kevin Saum — Sun, 08 May 2016 11:00:00 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast we learn from the expert on recovering from ACL injuries. Brian Bond has suffered 3 ACL injuries over the course of his athletic career. Brian and I both grew up in Long Valley, NJ and played for the Long Valley Raiders youth football program and for Coach Hennelly's West Morris Central Wolfpack. I grew up watching and looking up to Brian and his teammates because of the success they earned on the field.

In this episode Brian takes us through his football career starting in high school where he played defensive end and led his team to a state sectional final in his senior season. He also talks about the college recruiting process and what it was like to play at Rowan University, which was one of the best Division 3 programs in the country at the time. About half way through his senior season at Rowan, Brian tore his ACL and MCL during a game against Kean University. Brian talks about the thoughts and emotions that come with watching your team play, and sometimes succeeding without you. It's easy to say that you would be happy for your teammates's success, but the natural tendency is to turn to jealousy. We talk about how to deal with these feelings and how it is normal to feel this way.

Brian rehabbed rigorously after his knee surgery and treated it like his full-time job. Prior to the injury, Brian and a couple of his teammates were getting some attention from NFL scouts so he hired an agent and began working out at local combines where he excelled tremendously. Post-injury, Brian ran a 4.65 40 yard dash, had a 42 inch vertical leap and benched 225 lbs for 36 reps. Despite these numbers, NFL teams didn't want to take a chance on him because he hadn't played since the injury. Brian soon found himself playing for an Arena League team in Albany, NY to get game film for NFL Scouts. Unfortunately, Brian re-tore his ACL again in practice and never played again.

Through his experience in performance training and rehabilitation, Brian naturally transitioned into becoming a personal trainer for athletes and focuses on injury prevention. Listen to the podcast to hear how Brian suffered his 3rd ACL injury and knock on wood like I did for him so it won't happen again! If you are having a hard time transitioning to a life after sports, you do not want to miss this episode. Know that you're not alone.

Download Episode 31 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

30 : Chad Hollingsworth, President & Co-Founder of Triax Technologies

Kevin Saum — Sun, 01 May 2016 13:28:44 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast we talk about how technology can help make sports safer to play at all levels with Chad Hollingsworth, President and Co-Founder of Triax Technologies. In this episode, Chad and I talk about two of the products his company has innovated to improve sports safety, especially when it comes to concussions. The SIM-P and the SIM-G use a small accelerometer placed inside a headband or skull cap (pictured below).

The accelerometer measures the number, severity and location of head impacts to the athlete. Data collected by the accelerometer is synced via bluetooth technology to a smartphone for the SIM-P, which is perfect for any parent who wants to keep tabs on head impacts their child is receiving in practice or games. Alerts are sent to notify the parent or data-manager of severe impacts. The SIM-P is designed for individual use, but the SIM-G is designed for team use. With the SIM-G, Impact data is transmitted within 20 milliseconds to the sidelines and cloud, allowing for instant notifications of high impact events. Up to 63 athletes can be monitored simultaneously with the SIM-G.

SIM-P Screen Shot

I talk a lot about the culture of toughness in sports and how in our society it is glorified to play injured. As in my case, playing sports with a brain injury can be potentially fatal or life altering because of second impact syndrome (listen to episode 1 if you want to learn more about SIS). Products like these have the ability to break through the culture of toughness because they warn parents or athletic trainers of potentially dangerous blows to the head.

In addition, these products are used in research with the hope of all sports becoming safer for athletes to play in the future. Lastly, Chad said numerous times throughout the interview that the most important thing we can do to protect athletes from concussions is to educate them. Traix Technologies dedicated a section of their website called "HEAD ON" to concussion education.

Where can you learn more about Triax Technologies?

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Download Episode 30 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

29 : Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman, An Unlikely Journey From Classroom to Cage

Kevin Saum — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman is a former division 1 wrestler at Lock Haven University, Spanish teacher, fighter in the UFC, Pros vs. Joes champion, motivational speaker and author of the autobiography “Driven." Although he doesn’t always drink beer, when he does he prefers Dos Equis (not really, but he gives the most interesting man in the world a run for his money). Charlie is listed ahead of James Franklin, Head Football Coach at Penn State University, on the most notable alumni list on Wikipedia, so I am not the only one who thinks he is pretty cool! Charlie and I were connected by Mike Marsteller, who was our guest in Episode 4. Mike thought Charlie's perspective on sports and life would be perfect for the podcast and boy, was he right! Thanks Mike!

This was an all-encompassing interview that touched on all the topics we strive to address on the Heads 'N Tales podcast. Just to name a few we discuss handling both victory and defeat, overcoming injuries, managing concussions and doing the little things right. Charlie also gives us some insight into his "Elements of Success", which include creating a vision, identifying core values, defining success, living with accountability and surrounding yourself with the best. Charlie is a professional speaker and teaches these elements to his audience. Check out the video below to see him in action:

After listening to this episode I highly recommend reading his autobiography "Driven!" I read it to prep for the interview and felt such a connection to it that I couldn't put it down. I felt like "The Spaniard" was talking to me the entire time and he had me laughing through the ups and downs of his journey. I recommend the book to both athletes and non-athletes because there aren't too many people in the world who can say that they have lived there dream and Charlie teaches the reader what it takes to accomplish this. One of Heads 'N Tales' missions is to help athletes transition to life after sports and I know this Charlie's message will do just that!

Officially a Spaniard groupie!

Where can you find the Spaniard?

Book | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Blog

Download Episode 29 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

28 : Mike Furey, Captain of Team "Filth & Furey", Multiple Sclerosis MuckFest

Kevin Saum — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 16:14:29 +0000

Mike Furey was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the age of 26 after experiencing sensations of numbness throughout his body. MS is a chronic, typically progressive disease involving damage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, whose symptoms may include numbness, impairment of speech and of muscular coordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue. Mike first started feeling the symptoms of MS after waking up one morning after some intense PT sessions at his new job with the National Security Agency. The numbness started in his feet end eventually crept higher and higher up his body. Eventually he got to the point where he was numb from the neck down, but eventually improved over time. However, Mike was told by his doctor that the exercise initially brought on his symptoms (not actually true). After his doctor told him this, Mike made a negative association with exercise, which was completely out of character because of his background in law enforcement and as a college basketball player and he rarely talked about his condition.

In this episode Mike talks about the thoughts, feelings and emotions he experienced after his MS Diagnosis. It took about 4 years of being nervous to exercise for Mike to realize that he didn't want to live like that anymore. His passion for mud races began with one of the first Tough Mudder races in 2010 with one of his co-workers. The sense of accomplishment became addicting for Mike. Eventually, his wife told him about a MuckFest that raises money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Mike started a team for the New Jersey MS MuckFest in 2012 and since became ambassador for the race, which is a far cry from being afraid to exercise and being secretive about having MS. 2016 marks the fifth year of team "Filth & Furey" and they have raised close to $50,000 during this time.

In addition he talks about his basketball career and the life lessons he learned from being a "late bloomer" and playing on losing teams. There is a lot to be learned from this episode no matter if you are an athlete or not. I am proud to say that I have joined team Filth & Furey for the 2016 MuckFest in New Jersey on June 25th and 26th. Join the team, register your own or donate at the links below!

Team Filth & Furey

MuckFest MS NJ | Filth & Furey | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Download Episode 28 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

27 : Dallas Ouano, Former Villanova Basketball Walk-On

Kevin Saum — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 11:00:00 +0000

Dallas Ouano was once described as "A hard-working guard who understands his role ... Brings tenacity and a strong work ethic to the court and the classroom." These were the first two lines in Dallas' bio on the Villanova Athletics website. I am lucky to call Dallas my friend and I can vouch that he is still this kind of guy. In this episode, Dallas teaches us about what it takes to walk on to one of the best basketball teams in the country, despite suffering two serious knee injuries during his basketball career.

In the fall of 2008, Dallas arrived at Villanova University thinking that his competitive basketball career was over. However, as a freshman, he played on the school's club basketball team and went to try-outs for the varsity squad without any expectations. He was ultimately informed that he did not make the cut. Dallas still had fun traveling all over the country with the club team and in the interview he mentions that many club basketball teams are highly competitive and could be a great way to extend a high school athlete's athletic career. During this 2008-2009 Villanova Men's Basketball campaign, the team made it all the way to the Final Four in Detroit where they lost to eventual national champion, North Carolina.

Coming back to try-out for this caliber of team after a Final Four appearance might be intimidating to most athletes, but Dallas went into the 2009 season try-out feeling prepared, stronger and more explosive after a summer of intense workouts. This time, Dallas made the team!

Dallas learned a tremendous amount of life lessons playing under head coach Jay Wright. Many of the things he learned has extended beyond the basketball court. A few examples are listed below:

Knowing your role
"Be Here Now"
"Tap the Rock" (Check out the video below to learn about the significance)

Athletes overcoming injuries or another one of life's obstacles can learn a lot from this episode. Knowing your role on any team is vitally important, especially when an injury takes you off the court or field. There are a lot of distractions in today's world that can impede your recovery or from getting to the next level, so when you're in the gym or rehabbing an injury, put the phone down and "be here now." I hope you watched the video above, and if you didn't, here is your second chance... As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day, but if you keep tapping the rock, be prepared for big things to come.

Lastly, in this episode Dallas mentions his girlfriend's blog "Necessary Thickness" where athletes can also find inspiration! Follow Necessary Thickness at the links below:

Blog | Instagram | Facebook

Download Episode 27 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

26 : Brian Klinger, Creating a Culture of Safety in Youth Football

Kevin Saum — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 15:26:21 +0000

This week on the Heads ‘N Tales podcast I talk about Health & Safety in youth football with Brian Klinger. Brian is the president of the Morristown Wildcats youth football program in Morristown, NJ and he took an admirable approach to ensuring safety at all practices and games for his players.

Brian started the football program with the vision of giving all players with varying skill levels a chance to play, instead of watching from the sideline. To ensure this, Brian enacted a minimum playtime rule of one quarter/game for every kid on the team. I appreciate this rule because I was a kid who spent his first few years of football memorizing the cheerleader chants instead of the playbook. Another rule that ensures all athletes receive equal and unbiased attention from the coaching staff, no parent’s are allowed to coach at the 8th grade level.

From the get-go Brian saw the value in having a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) looking after the kids on game days. If you know anything about my story, an ATC saved my life, and although most high schools are beginning to see the value in them, many youth programs haven’t. The most important thing about this decision is that the ATC has the final say in if a player can return to the game.

USA Football, which is the sport’s governing body and is supported by the NFL has put great effort heat making the sport safer to play. They offer a coaching certification course that covers the following topics and all coaches in the Wildcat program are certified:
•   Concussion Recognition and Response
•   Heat Preparedness and Hydration
•   Sudden Cardiac Arrest
•   Proper Equipment Fitting
•   Heads Up Tackling
•   Heads Up Blocking

I think the Heads Up program is great for changing the culture of football from one of toughness to one of safety. However, at the end of the day, football is football, which is an inherently physical and at some times dangerous game. Heck, walking across the street and driving a car can be dangerous too. In this episode I want it to be clear that I loved football and still do. If I could go back and do it all over again I would. The only thing I would have done differently is say something when my head was hurting me. Had I been playing in a sports culture like the one Brian has created for the Wildcat program, I probably would have voiced my concern for the headaches I was experiencing. However, I chose to hide my concussion symptoms and had to sit out for the rest of my life. I hope all youth sports programs can look to the Morristown Wildcat program as the gold standard for ensuring the safest game possible.

Download Episode 26 : iTunes | Stitcher

25 : Brian O' Leary & Nick Hess, London Irish Rugby

Kevin Saum — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 21:45:58 +0000

Brian O'Leary (Right) and Nick Hess (Left) tending to an injured athlete.

Last week the London Irish Rugby club was in the United States for a match against Saracens, which took place at Red Bull Arena on March 12, 2016. Brian O'Leary, Head of Medical Services for the London Irish Rugby Club, spoke at Atlantic Sports Health in Morristown, New Jersey about the latest athlete health and safety management in professional rugby. Being an employee of Atlantic Sports Health, I took it upon myself to invite Brian and his colleague Nick Hess, Senior Physiotherapist, to do an interview and talk about trends in health and safety in their sport and how it can help improve safety in other sports like American Football.

Brian and Nick were both former rugby players themselves and they start off by talking about what led them to become Physiotherapists and what they loved most about the sport. It was interesting to see the similarities in cultures between rugby and American football. Brian and Nick both mentioned how the core values of respect, discipline, toughness and physicality were what they loved most about the sport. These same values are the reason why I and millions of people around the US love American football so much. Brian mentioned how there was recently a push over in England to ban tackling in youth rugby similar to the idea of forbidding tackle football until kids reach high school age. We all were in agreement that we don't believe this is the answer to making the games safer.

Brian O'Leary (Left) and Nick Hess (Right)

Later in the interview Brian and Nick talk about the data they collect on each athlete to monitor their overall wellbeing in an effort to prevent injuries. For example, the London Irish players all wear GPS devices to measure there milage for the day and the medical staff looks for spikes in their training volume, which then raises a red flag to follow up with that individual. In addition, each player takes a rate of perceived exertion survey every morning which ask's them about their sleep, stress, muscle soreness and mood. This measurement is also used to red flag athletes who need to be monitored more closely.

My favorite part of the conversation was when we talked about what American football can learn from the sport of Rugby to make the game safer. Brian and Nick both talked about the major difference between the sports is the flow of the game. In American football, there is a stoppage of play after each tackle made, whereas in Rugby the game is continued and many times to ball is pitched to another player. The continuous flow of the game makes it more risky to go for a "kill-shot". I think there is a lot of potential in this idea to take some of the unnecessary or big-hits on defenseless receivers out of the game.

Nick Hess is responsible for long-term injured players and he and Brian both talk about how they also serve the role of sports psychologist at times with the athletes. We talk about how to get the most out of your rehab program and how to stay on your game mentally and emotionally throughout the process. Unfortunately, every athlete's career comes to an end at some point and it can often feel like the loss of a close friend or relative. Brian talks about the grieving process that some of his athletes go through. If you are an athlete who has recently suffered a career ending injury checkout episode 23 with another Irishman, Liam Mulcahy!

Both rugby and American football are high contact sports and therefore have high incident rates of injury. Why are these two physically brutal games, which have left many athletes beaten, battered and debilitated (and in my case almost dead), so popular among the athletes who play and the fans who watch? I don't know if there is a good answer to this question, but I know that if I could do it all over again I undoubtedly would. I still have dreams about playing under the Friday Night Lights. It might be the glory, camaraderie, or the impressive display of athleticism and tactical strategies that unite entire nations and communities around the world. Whatever it is, I hope sports like rugby and football will be around long into the future and my hope is that this episode will spark a conversation about how to improve health and safety in all sports.

Where can you learn more about London Irish Rugby?

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

Download Episode 25 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

24 : Dan Exter, Layups 4 Life

Kevin Saum — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales Podcast Kevin traveled to Jersey City, NJ to interview Dan Exter, founder of Layups 4 Life. Saturday morning, July 13, 2013, Dan awoke to anyone's worst nightmare come true - a doctor with bad news. After a night out with friends, Dan received 2 missed calls and a voicemail from his doctor. The urgent news Dan's doctor had for him would change his life forever. Dan had been seeing a lung specialist to address the shortness of breath he had been experiencing for the previous few months. After trying inhalers to no avail his father recommended that he see a lung specialist in NYC.

Ultimately, Dan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. In this episode Dan talks about the plan of action that was taken by the doctors to fight the cancer. This included radiation, chemotherapy and a t-cell depleted stem cell transplant. Dan goes into detail about these treatments and how luck actually was on his side in some instances, like when his brother was a perfect match to be his stem cell donor. He also talks about the emotional ups and downs that come with going through a traumatic experience like fighting cancer and how to keep a positive attitude. At one point when Dan was unsure if he would beat this disease, he thought about what his legacy would be when he was gone.

Clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), the hospital where Dan received his treatments, proved the effectiveness of t-cell depleted stem cell transplants. To give back to the hospital that save his life he created Layups 4 Life, which is a 3 on 3 basketball tournament that raises money for life-saving clinical trial research at MSK. At last years first annual Layups 4 Life at Roxbury High School in Succasunna, NJ he raised over $10,000. View the video below to see what the event is all about!

Join us for the 2nd Annual Layups 4 Life, 3-on-3 Hoop-It Up tournament being held on Sunday, April 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Roxbury High School (1 Bryant Dr. Succasunna, NJ). Teams must be in groups of 4, ages 15+ can register. Click on the following link to sign up : REGISTER. Even if you don't want to play, come to support the cause, listen to the DJ, win some raffle prizes, bid on the silent auction items or indulge at the concession stand like I will be doing.

Where can you find Dan and Layups 4 Life?

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Website | Event Registration

Download Episode 24 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

23 : Liam Mulcahy, Good Grief

Kevin Saum — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 15:06:39 +0000

This week on the Heads 'N Tales podcast I interview Liam Mulcahy who is on the board at Good Grief, which is a New Jersey based organization that offers free bereavement services to families coping with the loss of a family member.

Good Grief provides FREE support to children, teens, and young adults after the death of a mom, dad, brother, or sister. Their programs help participants develop the coping skills they need now and for the future. Peer-support is highly effective because children and families learn they are not alone, learn from those going through something similar, and are given opportunities to express their feelings and share memories. At Good Grief and Heads 'N Tales, we know that a supportive community makes all the difference!

Liam organized a CrossFit Workout of the Day (WOD) at Guerrilla Fitness in Morristown, NJ that served as a fundraiser for Good Grief. The WOD was a partner workout, "I go, you go," for as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes : 7 Thrusters, 7 burpees and 7 box jumps. The significance of the rep scheme was inspired by the statistic that 1 and 7 kids will experience the loss of a Mom, Dad or sibling before the age of 20. Members of Guerrilla Fitness (Morristown) and athletes from nearby gyms raised close to $2000 for the event. Liam and I sat down for an interview after he completed this strenuous workout.

Liam was a colligate Track & Field athlete at Rutgers University so we talked about his transition to life after sports. For many athletes the end of a sports career can feel like the loss of a close family member or friend. Liam and I talk about ways to cope with this loss based on Good Grief's philosophy. During our conversation Liam said "now is the envy of all the dead". I felt that this was a great message for athletes transitioning to life after their sport or recovering from an injury because it could always be worse. We also talked about the importance of practicing gratitude as a tactic to improve happiness. In addition, Liam shares tales about a couple of concussions he suffered while playing sports in high school.

Want to learn more about Good Grief?

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Download Episode 23 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

22 : Jonathan Swiatocha, Run to Victory

Kevin Saum — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 20:13:30 +0000

Jonathan Swiatocha running in his first marathon.

Thirteen years ago, Jonathan Swiatocha and his family were driving home from a church performance when their vehicle was struck by an underaged drunk driver. Jonathan suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) which put him in a coma for three days and had to be put on life support. At just ten years old, Jonathan was given an obstacle that most do not survive from. Jonathan had to undergo intense physical, occupational and speech therapy to regain normal physical and cognitive functioning. Jonathan ultimately overcame this adversity, but it wasn't all smooth sailing going forward.

10 year old Jonathan on life support in the intensive care unit after the accident.

Doctors told Jonathan's parents that he would recover physically from his TBI relatively quickly, but emotionally, behaviorally and cognitively he may struggle as he gets older. They were right because depression, anxiety, fear, isolation, PTSD and thoughts of suicide are all battles that Jonathan has recently faced. These are all symptoms of an invisible injury that is often only noticeable by those closest to the individual. During this time, Jonathan had a conversation with his mother which made him realize he was living as a victim instead of living as a victor. Jonathan has started a new campaign in his life where he is now "Running to Victory." Jonathan has made it his mission to become the first olympic marathoner with a TBI. He has also began telling his story to inspire others to live live as a victor instead of a victim. Check out his TEDx talk below to see him in action.

Where can you find Jonathan?

LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Blog

Download Episode 22 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

21 : Adaptive Performance Systems, Meet Kionte's Strength Coaches

Kevin Saum — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 11:08:46 +0000

Thanks to everyone who donated to the GoFundMe we started to raise money to hire a strength and conditioning coach for Kionte Storey. Kionte is a retired United States Marine who lost his lower right leg to an IED (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan in September 2010 and he also struggled physically, mentally and emotionally throughout his recovery. He now is training to qualify for the 2016 International Paralympic Games in the 100, 200 and 400 meter sprint events. Listen to episode 13 to learn more about his story! Because of your generous support, Kionte is closer to reaching his dream. In episode 21 I interview Ty Summerlin and Marissa McGuirk from Adaptive Performance Systems. Ty and Marissa will be working with Kionte to help him reach his potential and become an elite Paralympic sprinter.

Ty Summerlin, Founder of Adaptive Performance Systems

Ty launched Adaptive Performance Systems in 2014 after several years of successful coaching experience with adaptive athletes. By combining mobility, structural balance training, and classic strength & conditioning, Ty and his team provide one-of-a-kind training programs that first emphasize mastery of basic fundamental movement. Once basic fundamental movements are remastered, athletes progress to more challenging movements and workouts and, ultimately, train to the highest levels of athletic performance. Adaptive Performance Systems offer both one-on-one and self-guided, online training programs for the adaptive community. In episode 21, Ty talks about his approach to training in detail and discusses his goals for Kionte for the next few months.

Marissa McGuirk, Strength Coach, Adaptive Performance Systems

Marissa is a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Adaptive Performance Systems and she has more letters than alphabet soup after her name. Marissa has both a Masters and Ph.D in Kinesiology. In addition, she is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, Level 2 Functional Movement Screen Specialist, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer and a USA-W Level 1 Sports Performance Coach. I'm sure I missed a certification in that list, but it is obvious that Kionte is in good hands! In episode 21, Marissa provides great insight into what it takes to overcome the mental struggles athletes face after injury and also the challenges prosthetics bring to training.

Interested in working with Adaptive Performance Systems? Click the links below to learn more:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Episode 21 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

20 : Sean Swarner, The Cancer Climber

Kevin Saum — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 12:00:00 +0000

Sean Swarner is the only person in the world ever to have been diagnosed with both Hodgkin's disease and Askin's sarcoma. He was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's disease when he was 13. After this diagnosis, doctors expected him to live for no more than three months. He overcame his illness only to find that a golf ball-sized tumor attacked his right lung during a routine checkup. After removal of the Askin's tumor (6% survival rate), Sean was expected to live for 14 days. A decade later and with only partial use of his lungs, Sean became famous for being the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest.

In this episode, Sean talks about his experiences in successfully climbing the 7 summits of the world and finishing the Hawaii Iron Man, which is thought to be one of the most difficult races in the world. Sean mentions that to accomplish these feats it takes a lot of mental strength in addition to physical. He talks about how the pain and suffering he went through as a kid with cancer increased his threshold for "Embracing the Suck". I can attest to that because after having brain surgery, everything short of it seems insignificant.

Sean has traveled all over the world for his climbing adventures and motivational speaking engagements. He talks about some of the most incredible things he has seen on his journey after cancer, including the "Yeti Skull". This skull is an artifact from a Buddhist monastery in Nepal (pictured below). Sean has also written a book on his experiences in overcoming both literal and figurative obstacles titles "Keep Climbing", which aims to give others hope.

Lastly, Sean is recruiting cancer survivors for his 2016 Kilimanjaro climb and Africa Safari. Sign up by the end of the month and save $500. Click here for the brochure!

I hope this episode can teach you how summit life's next peak.

Where can you find Sean?

Book | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Download Episode 20 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

19 : Paige Decker, "When the Wind Blows Hard and the Sky is Black - Ducks Fly Together"

Kevin Saum — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 01:46:18 +0000

Paige Decker is a former women's hockey player at Yale University. Her career was cut short because of her decision to play with a concussion and hide her symptoms from the team's medical personnel. Paige recently stared a blog called "The Invisible Injury" where she documents her recovery from post-concussion syndrome.

In addition to talking about the ups and downs of PCS, Paige often highlights some treatments she's had in an attempt to alleviate her symptoms. Some treatments have helped and others have actually made her worse. She warns other athletes to to be cautious in choosing doctors and hopes others can learn from her mistakes. Recently, Paige has visited the Sports Neurology Clinic at the University of Michigan and has seen promising results. Click on the link to read her post about how the Neurosport Docs at "The Big House" have helped her.

Being that Paige is the first hockey athlete on the Heads 'N Tales Podcast, I figured I would use a line from one of my favorite movies growing up in the title. If you grew up in the 90's like I did, you probably saw the movie "The Mighty Ducks." The head coach, Gordon Bombay, gives his team a motivational speech and refers to the "Flying-V" formation that ducks migrate in. Scientist say this formation helps the birds conserve energy by reducing wind resistance. The birds take turns in the front, falling back when they get tired. The other benefit of "the V" is that it is easy to keep tabs on all the birds in the group so no one is left behind. I feel that this formation is also symbolic of what Paige is doing with The Invisible Injury blog and what I am doing with this podcast. We are both trying to help conserve the emotional and physical energy of our followers by sharing how we overcame obstacles. Another reason why this formation is fitting is because we are both a part of a community that can be dark and stormy, but we aim to make sure no one feels alone in their journey.

DUCKS FLY TOGETHER!

Where can you find Paige?

Website | Instagram | Twitter

Download Episode 19 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

18 : Jay Fraga, Retired BMX Racer & Founder of The Knockout Project

Kevin Saum — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 00:20:57 +0000

Jay Fraga's BMX racing career was cut short due to sustaining multiple concussions and suffering from debilitating post-concussion symptoms (PCS). In episode 18, Jay talks about what is was like to quit the sport he loved and competed in nearly his entire life. Jay also talks about some of the treatments and doctors he has tried that have improved some of his symptoms. Although Jay is not completely out of the woods nearly 6 years post-injury, he continues to remain positive and created a blog dedicated to raising concussion awareness called "The Knockout Project."

Below, is a video of Jay's keynote speech at Baystate Medical Center's Sports Concussion Clinic "Adolescents and Sports Concussion Injuries."

The Knockout Project serves as a platform for athletes to share their experiences with PCS and give others hope. Jay and I are both pro-sports and don't want to scare people away from athletics. However, we want people to be educated about the risks of participating in sports while having a concussion and encourage athletes to speak up when this injury occurs.

Where it all began...

Above is a picture of a boy who fell in love with the sport of BMX.

That same boy who found his identity within the sport of BMX still lives in Jay today. Sports careers don't always end as envisioned, but I hope this episode can help other athletes deal with that loss.

Where can you find Jay?

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Download Episode 18 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

17 : Tyler Belanger, What's Worse Than Skipping Leg Day? Neglecting to Train Your Brain

Kevin Saum — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 00:09:33 +0000

Tyler Belanger is the Cofounder of Ignite Gym in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The mission of the gym is to enrich cognitive fitness through the use of tutoring and therapeutic programs as well as educational courses and "Brain WODS." Their services assist clients with autism, concussions, TBI's, brain fog and general cognitive improvement.

Ignite Gym's program was built on 4 pillars:

FUN – Fun piques curiosity and helps maintain interest, a necessary element in an enriched learning environment.
MASTERY – Separate from the Learning process, Mastery requires many hours spent using higher order processes of the brain.
VARIETY – Constant variance exposes the brain to as many subjects, puzzles, problems and languages as possible to develop resiliency or “antifragility”.
RE-BRANDING FAILURE – From learning how to self-regulate to understanding mistakes, we teach a more productive approach to failure. Similar to the approach professional athletes, scientists and designers exercise during their work.

Ignite Gym Classroom

Ignite Gym also provides innovative concussion baseline and return-to-play testing. Below is an outline of their return-to-play protocol:

In order to begin the Return to Play testing the athlete must have 48 hrs of rest, no physical activity, and be able to complete a full day of school without experiencing sensitivity to noise or light, irritability, headache, feeling in a fog, dizziness or nausea. These are signs that the brain needs less stimulation. Limit screen time to ensure symptoms stay at bay.

Once the athlete has made the previous requirement they will begin a 5 stage Return to Play protocol called B.R.A.I.N

B. Day 1 Testing: Bike or row test, Scat 3 Balance test, Auditory word recall and Verbal Fluency test.

PASS - Next step is to schedule day 2 testing within 24 hrs of passing this test.
FAIL - Next step is minimum of 48 hrs rest before redo Day 1 testing.

R. Day 2 Testing: Run 400m and Digit Symbol test

PASS – Next step is to schedule day 3 testing within 24 hrs of passing this test.
FAIL – Next step is minimum 48 hrs rest before redo Day 2 testing.

A. Day 3 Testing: Agility, Scat 3 Balance test and Pattern Finding test

PASS – Next step is to schedule day 4 testing within 24 hrs of passing this test.
FAIL – Next step is minimum 48 hrs rest before redo Day 3 testing.

I. Day 4 Testing: Interval training, Scat 3 Balance test and Stroop test.

PASS – Next step is to monitor ‘No Contact’ stage of plan. The athlete will be advised to make an appointment with their Physician to set up a final evaluation at this time. Concussion Pro will fax over Baseline scores and remind the athlete to bring in their Tracking Log into the appointment
FAIL – Next step is minimum 48 hrs rest before redo Day 4 testing

N. No Contact Testing: Athlete must participate in "No Contact" practices until final clearance from the Physician.

*Passing one stage does not clear the player to play. Clearance must come from your Physician.

The combination of physical and cognitive load in their protocol is unlike any other I have ever seen. Most sports put some level of reactionary demand on the athletes, so it is extremely logical to add puzzles and memory tests into the workouts. Try adding some of their workouts into your exercise routine. Click here to follow Ignite Gym's Daily Brain WOD.

Where can you find Tyler and Ignite Gym?

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website

Download Episode 17 : iTunes | Stitcher

Permalink

16 : Alicia Jensen, Coping With Post-Concussion Syndrome

Kevin Saum — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 01:00:57 +0000

Alicia Jensen speaking on the NFL panel during the Concussion Awareness Summit held at the United Nations.

A native of Cherry Hill, NJ, Alicia is a student at Towson University studying communications. In high school, Alicia played both soccer and lacrosse in addition to being a honors student. In the spring of 2012, her sophomore year of high school, a concussion in a soccer game left her with every post-concussion symptom in the book. Alicia was ultimately told that she would never be able to play soccer or lacrosse ever again and would never be able to fulfill her dream of being a collegiate athlete.

Alicia graduated from high school on time while on a 504 plan and while still fighting post-concussion symptoms. She has made it her mission to raise awareness about concussions. Alicia has spoken at the United Nations as the only female and amateur athlete on a panel with numerous professional athletes during the 2014 #C4CT Concussion Awareness Summit. In 2015, Alicia was appointed a Student Ambassador on the National Council on Youth Sports Safety.

In episode 16, Alicia discusses some of her darkest moments during her post-concussion recovery and gives advice to those who may be feeling the same as she did. Alicia has been suffering from post-concussion syndrome for the past 4 years and has seen over 25 medical specialists in an attempt to ease her symptoms. She specifically mentions her work with Dr. Angelo Colavita, who is an Atlas Chiropractic, alleviating some of her headache pain. In addition, Alicia provides insight into the importance of a 504 plan for a student athlete dealing with post-concussion symptoms.

I (Kevin) connected with Alicia via Jay Fraga's "The Knockout Project," which is a blog dedicated to spreading concussion awareness. If you enjoyed this episode go over to Jay's website at http://theknockoutproject.org/ . There you will find accounts of athletes who suffer from post-concussion symptoms. You are not alone!

Where can you find Alicia? Instagram | Twitter | KO Project

Download Episode 15 : iTunes | Stitcher

15 : Mickey Brueckner, When Life Throws You a Curveball

Kevin Saum — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 20:29:42 +0000

Mickey Brueckner, Founder & CEO of Annex Sports Performance

In Episode 15 Kevin interviews Mickey Brueckner who is the founder and CEO of Annex Sports Performance. Mickey was once a projected 5th round pick in the 2003 MLB draft until he suffered a season ending elbow injury, which required two Tommy-John surgeries. Mickey talks about the symptoms he had leading up to his elbow injury as well as his experiences through recovery.

Mickey always had a love for training so he naturally gravitated toward kinesiology as a college major. With his knowledge and experience as an elite level athlete, it was an easy transition for him to become a sports performance coach. Mickey and his team train some of the most elite athletes in New Jersey, including Boston Red Sox pitcher, Rick Porcello.

You can find Mickey at http://annexsportsperformance.com/ .

Annex Sports Performance : Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Below are some useful warm-up and arm strengthening videos:

Dynamic Warmup:

Arm Strengthening:

Download Episode 15 : iTunes | Stitcher

14 : Dr. Mike Teytelbaum, Can a Chiropractor Alleviate Post-Concussion Symptoms?

Kevin Saum — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 02:44:50 +0000

Dr. Mike Teytelbaum in action

Dr. Mike Teytelbaum is a Doctor of Chiropractic with a Diplomate in Chiropractic Neurology. There are only about 800 chiropractors world-wide who hold the distinction of "Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist". This credential allows Mike to treat patients who suffer from post concussion symptoms and other neurologic disorders without the use of surgery or medications. Mike treats patients at the Advanced Performance & Rehabilitation Center in Short Hills, NJ.

Chiropractic neurologists often have great success treating patients for whom all other treatment methods have failed. In addition to evaluating for pathologies as medical doctors do; a chiropractic neurologist evaluates for subtle changes in the function of the nervous system. It is this expertise in detecting subtle changes in function that sets a chiropractic neurologist apart from other specialists (Keystone Chiropractic Neurology).

Chiropractic Neurologists treat the following symptoms:

Headaches and chronic pain
Learning and attention disorders
Vertigo
Developmental disorders
Head injury or stroke
Spinal cord and nerve injuries
Movement disorders
Balance Disorders
Dystonia
Autism
Dyslexia
Thyroid Conditions
Diabetic Neuropathy

Sidney Crosby, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins Center, Sidney Crosby suffered from severe post-concussion symptoms, which sidelined him for over a year. He credits the work he did with Chiropractic Neurologist, Dr. Ted Carrick (The father of Chiropractic Neurology), for saving his career. View the press conference below to learn about Crosby's treatment:

Still suffering from post-concussion symptoms? Click on the link below to find a Chiropractic Neurologist near you:

https://acnb.org/DoctorLocator.aspx

Permalink

Heads 'N Tales Podcast-Talking Sports Injury Rehab, Prevention, Perseverance, Concussions & Athlete Transition

103 : Changing The Landscape of Adaptive Sports w/ Pro Basketball Player, Ryan Martin

"Its not about how you got there, its about how you deal with your situation"

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT RYAN MARTIN FOUNDATION?

WEBSITE | DONATE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Ryan?

INstagram | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 103 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Week 10 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Thursday Night Games, Sherman's Achilles, Wilson/Brisset/Freeman Concussion Protocol, Teddy's Return

Week 10 Injuries:

Non-Injury News, FInes & Updates from week 9:

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

102 : What's Your Game Plan For Life After Sports? w/ Vin McCaffrey, CEO of Game Plan

Below are some of the topics we touch on in our conversation:

Vin still has it!

Where can yoU Learn More about game Plan?

Website | Twitter | Facebook

WHERE CAN YOU FIND VIN?

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 102 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Week 9 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Luck & Winston Shoulders, Watson ACL, 3 Fights

Week 9 Injuries:

Three Separate Fights in Week 9:

Updates from week 8:

NFL Fine structure and Implementation Discussion:

Extended Conversation/Questions for Evan:

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

101 : Everything You Need To Know Before, During & After ACL Reconstruction w/ Jenna Minecci, Author of "Surviving 7"

"Don’t fight the process"

WHERE CAN YOU FIND Jenna?

Website | INstagram | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | Youtube

Where can you get your own copy of Surviving 7?

Download Episode 101 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Week 8 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Kiko Alonso Hit on Joe Flacco

Week 8 Injuries:

Week 7 Updates:

Week 8 Illegal Hits:

Extended conversation:

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

100 : A Look Back At One Hundred Episodes

Download Episode 100 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Week 7 Fantasy Football Injury Report w/ Special Guest, James Kratch : Carson Palmer, Joe Thomas, Mike Wallace, Jay Cutler, Malik Hooker

Week 7 Injuries:

Updates and Fines from Week 6:

View from inside an NFL Locker Room with James Kratch:

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

99 : When Post-Concussion Syndrome is On a Breakaway w/ Former Harvard Hockey Goalie, Molly Tissenbaum

Where can you find Molly?

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 99 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Week 6 Fantasy Football Injury Report : Aaron Rodgers' Broken Collarbone

Week 6 Injuries:

Week 6 Illegal hits:

WEEK 5 FOLLOW-UP:

WEEK 6 IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS:

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

98 : What Can Football Learn From Motorsport? w/ Pro Race Car Driver, Henrique Cisneros

Below are some topics of discussion in this episode:

"The safer the track and equipment, the better the racing"

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT Cisneros Corp automotive group?

MOMO | ADV1 | Weld | driven motorsport | forgestar

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT Motorsport safety foundation?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW henrique?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 98 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report : JJ Watt's & Odell Beckham's Broken Legs

WEEK 5 INJURIES:

WEEK 4 FOLLOW-UP:

Week 5 In-depth discussions:

Download : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

97 : The Power of Saying "No" During PCS Recovery w/ Brittni Souder

"Suffering with PCS makes you feel like you are the weakest person in the world."

Below are other topics of discussion from our interview:

"I’ve really had to Commit to not committing to things."

WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT PINK CONCUSSIONS?

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

WHERE CAN YOU FOLLOW BRITTNI?

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN

Download Episode 97 : iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud

M OMO | A DV1 | Weld | driven motorsport | forgestar