A 9/11 survivor with a fractured skull and years of concussion fallout, Mike Dempsey shares the real cost of trauma—and the tools, people, and hope that helped him rebuild his life.

Mike Dempsey’s life is the definition of resilience. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he chased elite athletics—football, baseball, even boxing—before building a successful corporate career. Then September 11, 2001 changed everything.

Mike was inside the World Trade Center complex when the first plane hit. Minutes later, near Tower One, he was knocked unconscious as the second plane struck—suffering a fractured skull and internal bleeding. What followed wasn’t just survival. It was years of navigating PTSD, memory loss, brain fog, vertigo, executive function challenges, and the terrifying experience of not recognizing your own brain.

In this powerful episode of The HeadRush Podcast, Paul Frase and Corey Berry sit down with Mike to unpack:

• What it was like inside the WTC on 9/11
• The hidden aftermath of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Repeated head impacts (RHI) and long-term brain health
• A later concussion that “broke the camel’s back”
• The darkest months—and how he fought back
• Neurofeedback therapy and emerging recovery modalities
• Why “finding your helpers” can save your life

This conversation is raw, honest, and hopeful. If you or someone you love is dealing with TBI symptoms, PTSD, anxiety, depression, or post-trauma life, this episode delivers clarity and courage.

Mantra: How to cope and find hope.
👉 Learn more about Mike: themikedempsey.com
👉 More episodes & resources: headrushpodcast.com

Proudly Supported By:
• Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation
• Millennium Health Centers
• Millennium Health Store
• Paradise Behavioral Health
• McWellness – Cristal Clark

Disclaimer: This podcast/video is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

#9/11survivor #WorldTradeCenter #traumaticbraininjury #TBIrecovery #PTSDrecovery #brainfog #neurofeedbacktherapy #concussions #repeatedheadimpacts #CTEawareness #traumarecovery #executivefunction #mentalhealthsupport

This week, HeadRush goes across the pond with Roy Heaney and Rich Coates from the UK’s Marshalling CTE Foundation—former rugby players turned advocates confronting the realities of repeated head impacts (RHI), TBI, TES, and probable CTE.

Roy and Rich share what happens when elite and grassroots athletes hit a breaking point and are told it’s “just anxiety” or “just depression,” despite years of collisions, concussions, and sub-concussive hits. They break down the differences between rugby league and rugby union, the cumulative damage of contact sports, and why so many players—and their families—are left without answers or support.

This conversation goes beyond sport. It addresses the families, spouses, and caregivers who carry the weight alongside those suffering, and why the Marshalling CTE Foundation was created as a support-first community when institutions, leagues, and healthcare systems fall short.

If you’ve experienced brain fog, rage, depression, anxiety, memory loss, or personality changes after head trauma—and felt dismissed or unheard—this episode is for you.

You are not weak. You are not alone. And this is not just in your head.

Mantra of the episode: Stronger together.

If you’ve been told “it’s all in your head,” but you know something is wrong—listen closely.

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#CTE #BrainHealth #Rugby #TBI #Concussion #MentalHealth #Neuroinflammation #HeadTrauma #TES #RHI #BrainHealth #MentalWellness #AddictionRecovery #StopStigma #BrainInjuryAwareness #StopCTE #TBIRecovery #VeteranSupport #MentalResilience #health #mentalhealth #MillenniumHealth #MillenniumHealthStore #ParadiseBehavioralHealth #tripharlan #PatrickRishaCTEAarenessFoundation #McWellness #VeteranStrong

Welcome to the HeadRush Podcast Year-End Review — a full recap of 2025 and a look ahead to what’s coming in 2026.

In this episode, Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S, NBCC, CEAP, SAP (MC Wellness) joins Paul Frase and Corey Barry to reflect on a year of growth in awareness, hope, and community building around brain health — including:

🔹 TBI, concussions, and repeated head impacts
🔹 Brain health effects often misunderstood: brain fog, anxiety, mood disruption, and emotional challenges
🔹 How connection creates hope and why that matters for survival and recovery
🔹 The official launch of the HeadRush Foundation — applying for 501(c)(3) status to expand access to support, education, and therapies not always covered by insurance

Big takeaway:
Connection → Hope → Awareness → Support
🎧 Watch more episodes at: https://headrushpodcast.com

Proudly sponsored by:
• MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S, NBCC, CEAP, SAP
• Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation (StopCTE.org)

• Millennium Health Centers

• Millennium Health Store

• Paradise Behavioral Health

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What do professional cowboys and an NFL player have in common?

More than you might think.

In this episode of the HeadRush Podcast, Nick LaDuke, Corey Berry, and Paul Frase sit down for a wide-ranging, honest conversation that connects brain health, regenerative agriculture, neurodiversity, and faith — and why all of it matters for families, communities, and future generations.

This discussion explores:

How regenerative agriculture supports healthier land, healthier food, and healthier people

The role of brain health, neurodiversity, and SPECT imaging in performance and recovery

What elite athletes and ranchers understand about discipline, responsibility, and stewardship

Why God, family, and community remain foundational values — on the field, on the ranch, and in everyday life

Rather than chasing trends or talking points, this episode focuses on long-term thinking: how we care for our minds, our bodies, our land, and each other.

Whether you’re an athlete, rancher, parent, coach, or someone searching for deeper purpose beyond performance, this conversation offers perspective, humility, and insight grounded in lived experience.

🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube

🌐 Learn more at HeadRushPodcast.com

Visit HeadRushPodcast.com for episodes, resources, and ways to support brain injury awareness.

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In this powerful episode of the HeadRush Podcast, we sit down with Trip Harlan, CEO of the Bio Optimization Institute in Tampa, Florida, to explore groundbreaking approaches to brain injury recovery and high-performance optimization.

Trip breaks down how the Bio Optimization Institute uses five clinically proven modalities—including one that earned a 2019 Nobel Prize—to enhance neurological recovery, cognitive performance, and rehabilitation for both the brain-injured population and elite athletes.

We discuss:
How bio-optimization accelerates recovery from brain injury
Performance enhancement without shortcuts or gimmicks
The science behind Nobel Prize–winning technology
Bridging the gap between rehabilitation and peak human performance

Whether you’re navigating TBI, CTE, repeated head impacts, or striving for elite performance, this episode delivers science-backed insight you don’t want to miss.

👉 Learn more and explore additional episodes at:

https://headrushpodcast.com

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Together, we’re changing the conversation around brain health, recovery, and human performance.

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Can we win the battle against demyelinating diseases? In this episode of the HeadRush Podcast, we sit down with Helen McCormack, Founder and CEO of Viotheia Biosciences, to explore the rapidly evolving world of precision medicine. Helen shares groundbreaking insights into diagnostic innovations and re-myelination techniques that could transform how demyelination diseases are detected and treated. This conversation offers hope, science, and a glimpse into the future of neurological care.

👉 Learn more and explore all episodes at HeadRushPodcast.com

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In this powerful episode of the HeadRush Podcast, we sit down with Brandi Winans, wife of former NFL player Jeff Winans, and Susan Berry, wife of former professional Bareback Bronc rider Corey Berry, as they open up about the emotional, physical, and daily realities of being caregivers to loved ones living with brain injuries, CTE, TES, chronic pain, and the long-term effects of repeated head impacts.

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Tatyana McCall Wimberley joins the HeadRush Podcast for one of our most powerful episodes yet, sharing the life and legacy of her son Ray Lewis III, who tragically passed away and was later diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

As the mother of Ray Ray and former partner of NFL Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis, Tatyana provides an unfiltered, emotional look into football culture, warning signs of brain trauma, and the devastating impact that repeated head impacts can have on athletes and families.

We talk about:

• Ray Lewis III’s life, spirit, and athletic journey

• The symptoms and struggles that often go unnoticed before a CTE diagnosis

• The emotional and mental toll on families

• The urgent need for education, research, and safer sports practices

• The creation and mission of the RL3 Foundation at RL3Foundation.com, dedicated to protecting and supporting athletes

This episode honors Ray Ray’s life while pushing forward the fight for athlete mental health, brain-injury awareness, and real change in sports.

Learn more or support the mission at RL3Foundation.com

#RL3Foundation #RayLewisIII
#HeadrushPodcast
#TatyanaMcCallWimberley #CTEAwareness #HeadRushPodcast #BrainInjuryAwareness #FootballSafety #AthleteMentalHealth #ConcussionAwareness #RepeatedHeadImpacts
Plus all our regular hashtags.