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

Mike Wahle is a retired 11 year NFL Veteran. He played 7 Years for the Green Bay Packers, 3 with the Carolina Panthers and 1 season with the Seattle Seahawks before being medically retired after a shoulder injury. More recently, Mike is the founder of Unrivaled Systems and Process2Perform where he serves as the host of the Process2Perform podcast. I had so much fun recording and preparing for this interview. I grew up a Green Bay Packers fan and proudly wore the number 30 in my Pop Warner days just like my favorite player at the time, Ahman Green, running back for the Packers. Mike was responsible for clearing huge holes for Ahman to run through on his way to becoming the franchise leader for rushing yards. My 10-year old self would be so jealous of me right now, and to be honest, I genuinely felt like a kid again while talking to Mike. In this interview, Mike tells us stories about injuries he suffered throughout his football career, concussions, losing 50 lbs and his retirement from football all through the lens of the 3 Dials (Mindset, Technical Mastery, and Lifestyle (Making ownership decisions )) that he teaches to his athletes and clients today. Listeners of this episode will learn about the toolset Mike relied on to be elite in football and elite in his field today. Topics covered: Achieving your goals on or off the field will always go back to your Mindset, Technical Mastery, and Lifestyle (3 Dials). You can still be elite and not have your full identity associated with your sport or craft. The importance of automating decision making. Why athletes are always making business decisions on and off the field and how the recently added player safety rules impact these decisions. Why athletes need goals and routines post-career. The corporate world might not be the right fit for athletes post retirement. What is is like playing in an Army-Navy Game. Mike’s decision to become a Hall of Fame Behavioral Health ambassador.

Jonathan Katz is the founder of Blendi, which brought the first portable, rechargeable and battery powered blender to the market. Jonathan is a competitive body builder, which is where the inspiration behind Blendi came from. Jonathan took the initiative to solve his own problem of having to drink clumpy protein shakes at the gym. Jonathan is also another active participant in the Dulye Leadership Experience. In this interview Jonathan takes us through his weight loss journey that cost him a spot on his high school football team, but ultimately lead him to body building and entrepreneurship. If you are an athlete who desires to run your own company one day, you are in luck. Jonathan gives us the roadmap that transformed Blendi from an idea, into a tangible product. In addition, Jonathan talks about valuable experiences he’s had in both sales and sports that have made a positive influence on growing his company. To this day his company has been self funded by his own hustle.

Didn’t plan for life after sports? Don’t worry, its never too late as long as you are willing to take ownership of your career! Linda Dulye is the President & Founder, Dulye & Co. and the mastermind behind the Dulye Leadership Experience (DLE), which provides expansive learning programs, networking opportunities and delivers premiere professional development for individuals who are passionate about their career and their community. The DLE was established in partnership with Syracuse University as visionary, immersive training to prepare undergraduates to successfully transition into the workplace. Entirely funded and managed by Linda Dulye, a dedicated Syracuse alumna, this pioneering program has helped hundreds launch careers in diverse industries, locations and positions. Becoming a member of the community is completely free of charge and open to all, regardless of geographic location, industry, job title or experience. The DLE offers a welcoming, supportive community and a sincere commitment to inspire it’s members to be their best and do their best—thereby benefiting not only themselves and their careers but also their organizations, their communities and each other. After witnessing one of her Syracuse classmates struggle with life after a career ending football injury, Linda wanted medically disqualified Syracuse athletes to apply for the DLE as well to aid in their transition to life after sports. Marcus Coleman, was one of those selected applicants and in this episode he discusses the role the DLE played in his transformation to life after football. Marcus is a Former Syracuse University Football Player, Registered Client Service Associate at Park Square Financial Advisors of Raymond James. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the DLE and is the former roommate of one of our former guests, Terrel Hunt. In this episode, both Linda and Marcus provide tips on how you can turn your transition into a transformation and it all starts with taking ownership. Where can you connect with Linda? LINKEDIN Where can you connect with Marcus? LINKEDIN Apply to the DLE (HERE) Download Episode 166 : iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher

Patrick McQuown serves as the executive director of entrepreneurship at Towson University. After listening to my interview with Desiree Melfi Bozzo, Patrick connected me with Former Syracuse Quarterback, Terrel Hunt and he invited me down to TU to record this interview on why athletes make great entrepreneurs and meet the fellows in his StarTUp Accelerator. The StarTUp Accelerator, an intensive eight-week, cohort-based fellowship where selected fellows take residency and work in a collaborative space to accelerate their ventures. Terrel Hunt is participating in this program while working on his Good Choice Productions venture highlighted in episode 163. Patrick launched his first company Proteus in 1996, working out of his dorm room at George Washington University. He started Proteus with $1,000 and no outside funding. Proteus grew into a mobile media industry leader and was first in the world to create an application that allowed users to send short text messages from a Web site to a handset. Proteus is also responsible for creating the text-polling for the reality television show American Idol. His second startup, SinglePoint, raised $50M in venture capital and deployed two of the largest-ever messaging campaigns—one for the 2008 Summer Olympics and one for Obama for America.

Christian Lezzer is a former Boston College and University of Central Florida football player. Most recently Christian was named Berkshire Hathaway’s “Top New Agent,” was inducted into the company’s Honor Society and founded the Lezzer Realty Group. Christian was formally on the podcast in November of 2015 (Episode 9) to talk about his decision to retire from the sport of football after suffering from multiple concussions. A lot has changed since 2015 (luckily for my podcast quality too) and Christian gives us the update on what he has been up to for the last 6 years and gives us some insight into what has made him a successful Real Estate agent.

Terrel Hunt is a former Syracuse University Quarterback and Team Captain. He ranks in the top 10 in school history for passing yards, completion percentage, completions and rushing touchdowns despite suffering 2 season ending injuries including a broken leg in his junior season and an Achilles injury that he suffered midway through the first quarter of the first game in his senior season. Most recently, I met up with Terrel and his Co-Founder Jeremiah Kobena (like your favorite basketball player) down at Towson University in Patrick McQuown’s StarTUp accelerator program where they are working on their latest entrepreneurial endeavor of Good Choice Productions. We talk about Good Choice Productions at length in this interview and how they are striving to share the stories of the 98% of retired athletes. The 2% are the Michael Strahan’s, Tony Hawk’s and Michael Jordan’s of the world. Most retired athletes have a hard time relating to those successful transformations to life after sports and that is where Good Choice Productions comes in to play.

Dr. Phil Wagner is the CEO and Founder of Sparta Science. Sparta Science is the industry’s gold standard for Force Plate Machine Learning that predicts, improves, and validates individual and team availability. With a simple, self-serviceable two minute scan per person, athletes can increase fitness levels, prevent injuries, and accurately predict readiness using the world’s largest machine learning force plate database. Dr. Wagner is also a physician and strength coach whose own athletic career as a football and rugby player was cut short by a series of avoidable training injuries. Sparta Science was born out of Dr. Wagners desire to prevent athletes career’s from being prematurely cut short due to preventable injuries like his was. In this episode, Dr. Wagner discusses why one’s ability to move should be considered a vital key health indicator, if not THE #1 predictor of health. Below you will find more talking points of this interview: What is Sparta Science and what inspired the creation of the technology? Dr. Wagner’s athletic background and injuries suffered. (Muscle strains, fractures, concussions) Origins of becoming a movement doctor. Explanation of tests on Sparta Science force plate (Balance, plank, jump) Why these movements? How do they translate across all sports and athletes? Why should movement be considered a key health indicator? How the data collected is used to predict future injury? How do team’s strength, medical staffs and athletes use the technology? What is muscle overload? Once a potential vulnerable spot is identified, what is the treatment/training plan for the athlete to combat this deficit/imbalance? Mitch Haniger Case Study. How is Sparta Science being used at the NFL Combine. Why GM’s might actually prefer a lower scorer on the Sparta Science Assessment. How Sparta Science Technology is used in injury recovery/rehabilitation.

Successful athletes and entrepreneurs both love to hustle, which is why I was so impressed with Michigan State University’s Entrepreneurial Training Camp initiative for their student athletes. In this episode of the podcast, I interviewed Desireé Melfi Bozzo who is the mastermind behind this MSU initiative. Desireé Melfi Bozzo is the Student Success & Advising Manager of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Michigan State University. She is also an instructor on the entrepreneurial mindset and an entrepreneur herself. The Entrepreneurship Training Camp was designed with three goals in mind: sharpening the Entrepreneurial Mindset, infusing business acumen and exposing student-athletes to the venture creation process. We hope this interview gives athletes the confidence to take that first step toward becoming an entrepreneur.

The tables were turned this month when I was a guest on Morris Sussex Sports as a part of their athletes and mental health series in the wake of COVID-19’s impact on sports at every level. In this recording, I share some of the knowledge I gained from interviewing my guests over the past 5+ years. Dr. Jane Esposito and Dr. Susan Lorentz from the Sparta Align Wellness Center join me in this conversation and provide tremendous clinical insights that athletes and non-athletes of all ages can adopt. Last summer I read David Goggins’ book titled “Can’t Hurt Me” and it changed the way that I look at disappointments. Injuries, getting cut from the team and COVID-19 inevitably lead to disappointment, but as I state in the intro to every one of my podcast episodes “You can’t control what happens to you in life, but you can always control how you respond.” David Goggins states in his book, “Until you experience hardships like abuse and bullying, failures and disappointments, your mind will remain soft and exposed. Life experience, especially negative experiences, help callous the mind. But it’s up to you where that callous lines up. If you choose to see yourself as a victim of circumstance into adulthood, that callous will become resentment that protects you from the unfamiliar. It will make you too cautious and untrusting, and possibly too angry at the world. It will make you fearful of change and hard to reach, but not hard of mind.” Callousing the mind was a mindset David adopted that helped him get through 3 BUD/S hell weeks. Instead of feeling bad for himself every time he experienced a setback, and he had many, he thought about how much easier his next challenge he was faced with would seem in comparison. I bring up this David Goggin’s quote because my hypothesis as to why so many athletes are struggling with the abundance of change and uncertainties is because they haven’t been faced with enough similar challenges throughout their lives to refer back to, which could help them navigate this new challenge life has thrown their way. I use many examples from my own life in this show, which self admittedly stunted my transition to life after sports from becoming a transformation. Two of my previous interviews that I referenced on this show were Episode 54 with Bill Anthes and Episode 153 with Vince Ruiz. Specific topics we touch on are as follows: A new critical take on my own story and experience over the past 13 years after my injury that I hope others can learn from. The importance of focusing on your “How” vs. What.” Coaches roles in building a healthy team culture. Advice for parents of injured athletes. My challenge to athletes to step into the unknown. Download Episode 160 : iTunes | Spotify |

Ilayda Samilgil grew up in Istanbul, Turkey and is a graduate of Cornell University’s mechanical engineering program. She is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Organic Robotics Corporation and the mastermind behind the Award-Winning Light Lace Technology, which aims to prevent injuries in athletes and also has the potential to aid in injury rehabilitation (Demo at the bottom of the post. Leading up to this year’s Super Bowl with Tom Brady’s Buccaneers and Patrick Mahome’s Chiefs, Ilayda and her team won the NFL’s 1st and Future Competition (Full NFL Network segment of competition in link). Organic Robotics Corporation beat out Genesis Helmets, Inc., Nix, Inc. and GO² Devices / PEEP Performance, LLC for the top spot. Below you will find more talking points of this interview: How can Light Lace assist in helping athletes avoid injuries. How movement, muscle fatigue and respiration affect an athlete’s vulnerability to injury. The role athletic trainers/team medical staff will play in using this technology. Light Lace being used in training and competition or both. How athletes and a team’s medical support staff can make decisions based on the information gained from Light Lace. Opportunities for Light Lace to be used in injury recovery. How the idea for Light Lace evolved and what is on the horizon. Winning the NFL’s 1st and Future Competition after not being selected at all in the year prior. Challenges in starting your own company and advice for athletes looking to start their own company or turn an idea into reality. Where can you connect with Ilayda online? LinkedIn | Website Download Episode 159 : iTunes | Stitcher

Ben Lofrumento is a former standout tennis and basketball player whose senior season ended before it even began due to a knee injury sustained while training. Ben is currently a college student at the University of Maryland and decided to take a gap year due to COVD-19. Don’t get it twisted, this kid isn’t using this gap to chill out and collect Dorito dust in his Mom’s basement. He is using this time to gain professional experience, create YouTube content and inspire viewers with his expertise on mindset. I came across Ben’s road to recovery on my good friend George Muha’s Morris Sussex Sports (MSS) podcast (featured further down in this post). Off the bat I was extremely impressed with the maturity level of Ben’s approach to his recovery from his knee injury and more recently his shoulder surgery. After speaking with Ben on the phone after his interview on MSS, I learned about some creative and healthy outlets Ben immersed himself in while most would be sitting around feeling sorry for themselves. Specifically, Ben took up music writing and recording and ended up recording an album. He is most proud of the song “Talk To ‘Em,” which is featured below. I recommend listening to the SONG prior to listening to the interview, because we spend the majority of interview dissecting lines of the song. We also had an interesting realization that the process for transformation’s to life after sports often start with activities that start off as distractions, but quickly become fun due to gaining progress in the task at hand, and in Ben’s case, this was writing music. For me, it happened to be creating this podcast.

In this episode former NFL running back, Prince Daniels Jr discusses the role mindfullness and meditation played in helping him overcome the dark days during his transition to life after football and ultimately transform himself into the author of the book Mindfullness for the Ultimate Athlete. I was fortunate enough to be sent a copy of Prince's book and learned not only how to meditate, but how mindfullness and meditation can be used to transform your life and in some cases, save your life. During my conversation with Prince Daniels, he tells his story in great detail about how he was very close to taking his own life after his NFL career came to an end after a shoulder injury. The segment of our conversation that discussed the relationship between Spirit, Mind, and Body and how it translates to the transformation to life after sports is something I continue to reflect on. Where can you connect with Prince online? WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM

Natalie Higby is a Co-Founder of The Durable Athlete, which is a company dedicated to spreading the word about how simple changes week after week can help you get stronger, feel better, and live longer. Natalie also serves as a Health and Wellness Coach at the Onnit Academy, which is a gym in Austin, Texas where the goal is the optimize both the mind and body. I came across Natalie’s work while looking into the durability course that Onnit offers. Specifically, I came across an Instagram post (quotes below) of Natalie’s where she described overcoming arthritic knee pain through consistently doing the small things in the areas of Breath, Movement, Sleep and Nutrition that ultimately alleviated her pain. “ I WAS TOLD BY A DOCTOR THAT I HAVE ARTHRITIS IN MY KNEES, BUT RATHER THAN USING THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO STOP MOVING, I USED IT TO MOTIVATE ME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!…YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE YOUR DAILY ACTIONS AND HABITS THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR OVERALL HEALTH FOR YEARS TO COME. CHOOSE WISELY”! I believe I was always think of myself as an athlete. For those of you that have been longtime followers of the podcast, you know that I have struggled with a knee injury that always continues to linger. Natalie’s lines above really resonated with me, because when my daily habits include Breath, Movement, Sleep and Nutrition my knee almost always feels some much better and my performance improves dramatically. The moment I stray away from these habits, the pain quickly returns. I brought Natalie on the podcast to teach us about some of the daily habits she incorporates with her clients and into her own training regimen to remain pain free. In this interview Natalie and I dive into the topics listed below and more! Background on Natalie’s athletic career and injuries suffered. Natalie’s transformation to life after college basketball. Advice for athletes to help them transform in their lives after sports. What led to the creation of The Durable Athlete? What goes in to creating a durable athlete? Breath Movement Sleep Nutrition How can The Durable athlete help athletes during their careers and post career. The daily habits that led to Natalie’s pain free performance. The services Natalie and Cristian offer through The Durable Athlete. The Influence CrossFit has on her coaching today. An explanation of the Onnit Academy and what it’s like to work there. WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH NATALIE? INSTAGRAM | THE DURABLE ATHLETE Download Episode 156 : iTunes |

Coach Drew Gibbs has been the Head Football Coach at Ramapo High School since 2001 and has won 7 state titles during that time. He was inducted into the New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014. Most recently, his team has won back to back undefeated state titles in 2018 and 2019 (26 wins in a row) all while placing a high emphasis on player safety. A 2019 Washington Post Article featured coach Gibbs and his strategy of excluding live tackling drills from practice in an attempt to minimize the risk of injury to his players. In this episode, we learn how Coach Gibbs achieved this while ensuring his players are prepared to tackle safely and effectively on Friday nights. Below are some of the other topics we touch on throughout this article: What influenced his decision to remove tackling from practice. How much of his recent and past successes can be credited to the health and safety of his players. How his tackling drills have evolved? Why Coach emphasizes “Staying off the ground." Rugby style tackling. Personality types and who coach worries about the most. How coach toes the line between safety and aggression and how he communicates that with his players. How the culture of safety evolved since he began coaching. Why football is safer than it’s ever been. Coaches definition of toughness. Where can you follow coach Gibbs? Twitter

Rob Thompson currently works in Athletic Development and is a Sport Management Adjunct Professor at the University of New Haven. He is also the host of SportsBiz Radio and authored the Book “Sports Dream Job Playbook.” Additionally, Rob is the Founder of GamePlanU which provides emerging sports tech ideation-2-execution accelerators and connects innovators to investors. In this interview Rob and I discuss how entrepreneurship eased his transition to life after professional football and how it might be a good option for you as well! Below is a list of topics with cover throughout the interview: How a professor at the University of New Haven diagnosed him with Dyslexia and how it changed his academic performance and his life. The path that led him to the NFL, Coaching and eventually GamePlanU. Never wanted football to define him. I don’t want to be that guy. Why a lot of Entrepreneurs have dyslexia. Why self-awareness and managing your expectations is important in preparing for life after sports. I didn’t know what else to do (became a coach after professional career) Found a niche in recruiting how that led to his first entrepreneurship endeavor The reliance on networking in that endeavor His experience working at the NFL with the youth development programs Rob’s thoughts on the current state of safety in football Do athletes make good entrepreneurs? Why female athletes are even more prepared to excel after sports. GamePlanU as the bridge of discovery Finding your Passion vs. Purpose Who is ultimately responsible for preparing athletes for life after sports SportsBiz Radio Podcast WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH ROB ONLINE? WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN Download Episode 154 : iTunes | Stitcher

Rob Thompson currently works in Athletic Development and is a Sport Management Adjunct Professor at the University of New Haven. He is also the host of SportsBiz Radio and authored the Book “Sports Dream Job Playbook.” Additionally, Rob is the Founder of GamePlanU which provides emerging sports tech ideation-2-execution accelerators and connects innovators to investors. In this interview Rob and I discuss how entrepreneurship eased his transition to life after professional football and how it might be a good option for you as well! Below is a list of topics with cover throughout the interview: How a professor at the University of New Haven diagnosed him with Dyslexia and how it changed his academic performance and his life. The path that led him to the NFL, Coaching and eventually GamePlanU. Never wanted football to define him. I don’t want to be that guy. Why a lot of Entrepreneurs have dyslexia. Why self-awareness and managing your expectations is important in preparing for life after sports. I didn’t know what else to do (became a coach after professional career) Found a niche in recruiting how that led to his first entrepreneurship endeavor  The reliance on networking in that endeavor  His experience working at the NFL with the youth development programs  Rob’s thoughts on the current state of safety in football Do athletes make good entrepreneurs? Why female athletes are even more prepared to excel after sports. GamePlanU as the bridge of discovery Finding your Passion vs. Purpose  Who is ultimately responsible for preparing athletes for life after sports SportsBiz Radio Podcast WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH ROB ONLINE? WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN Download Episode 154 : iTunes | Stitcher 

The way I met U.S. Army Veteran, Travis Manion Foundation Mentor and Mental Health Professional, Vince Ruiz was confirmation that there are no accidents in life. Vince and I met at the first ever Between The Ears “Link-Up,” which was founded by one of my former guests and mentors, Bill Anthes. Vince and his buddy just happened to hop in my truck as we car-pooled to a local hiking trail near the Phoenicia Diner in upstate NY. Vince had heard of my podcast from his prior interactions with Bill and started asking me questions about it at the base of the trailhead when we arrived. I began to explain how I interview injured athletes and discuss the transition to life after sports. Without hesitation, Vince followed up on my description with almost a correction of my wording by saying something like “Right on, the TRANSFORMATION.” Although I had heard this one word (TRANSFORMATION) 1000 times, for whatever reason hearing it come from Vince really struck a cord with me on this day. I had been hosting this podcast and recorded over 150 interviews and had never heard anyone put it that way. In my mind, a transition requires one to only just go through the motions and it makes the situation seem out of your control. On the contrary, I believe “Transformation” stands for growth through action. I love looking at an athletes life after sports from the latter lens. The more I thought about the word, the more I realized how it applied to my own transformation, which was a direct result of starting this podcast and seeking the answers from those who had been there before me, while also shining a light into the darkness for those struggling after me. In this episode, Vince shines an even brighter light into the darkness of the life after sports by taking us through the story of his own struggles with PTSD and addiction after retiring from the military and how he is paying it forward today through the Travis Manion Foundation. WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH Vince ONLINE? INSTAGRAM | Facebook

The way I met U.S. Army Veteran, Travis Manion Foundation Mentor and Mental Health Professional, Vince Ruiz was confirmation that there are no accidents in life. Vince and I met at the first ever Between The Ears “Link-Up,” which was founded by one of my former guests and mentors, Bill Anthes. Vince and his buddy just happened to hop in my truck as we car-pooled to a local hiking trail near the Phoenicia Diner in upstate NY. Vince had heard of my podcast from his prior interactions with Bill and started asking me questions about it at the base of the trailhead when we arrived. I began to explain how I interview injured athletes and discuss the transition to life after sports. Without hesitation, Vince followed up on my description with almost a correction of my wording by saying something like “Right on, the TRANSFORMATION.” Although I had heard this one word (TRANSFORMATION) 1000 times, for whatever reason hearing it come from Vince really struck a cord with me on this day. I had been hosting this podcast and recorded over 150 interviews and had never heard anyone put it that way. In my mind, a transition requires one to only just go through the motions and it makes the situation seem out of your control. On the contrary, I believe “Transformation” stands for growth through action. I love looking at an athletes life after sports from the latter lens. The more I thought about the word, the more I realized how it applied to my own transformation, which was a direct result of starting this podcast and seeking the answers from those who had been there before me, while also shining a light into the darkness for those struggling after me. In this episode, Vince shines an even brighter light into the darkness of the life after sports by taking us through the story of his own struggles with PTSD and addiction after retiring from the military and how he is paying it forward today through the Travis Manion Foundation. WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH Vince ONLINE? INSTAGRAM | Facebook  

Penelope Yamauchi is an Athlete Job Placement Coach with Athletes to Careers and is a former Division - 1 swimmer and 2012 Olympic trial qualifier. I met Penelope through my last podcast guest, Tobruk Blaine who is the Director of the Beyond Football Program at San Diego State University. After personally struggling to find a job she was passionate about after her swimming career, Penelope has made it her life’s mission to prevent other athletes from suffering the same fate as long as they are willing to put in the work!

Penelope Yamauchi is an Athlete Job Placement Coach with Athletes to Careers and is a former Division - 1 swimmer and 2012 Olympic trial qualifier. I met Penelope through my last podcast guest, Tobruk Blaine who is the Director of the Beyond Football Program at San Diego State University. After personally struggling to find a job she was passionate about after her swimming career, Penelope has made it her life’s mission to prevent other athletes from suffering the same fate as long as they are willing to put in the work!

Over the past couple of years I have been seeing a lot of Division 1 football teams start programs that help prepare their athletes for life after ball. However, one program in particular has caught my eye and in my opinion is doing it better than all the rest. San Jose State University’s Beyond Football program should be looked to as the gold standard of this group of athlete preparedness curriculums and I got to talk with the mastermind behind it all. Tobruk Blaine is the Director of Beyond Football at San Jose State University and serves as the position coach of life on the team. Prior to building the SJSU Beyond Football program from the ground up, Tobruk was an award-winning educator and championship cheerleading coach. In this interview we talk about how Tobruk’s past experiences as an athlete, teacher and coach influenced the structure of her program and she gives us advice on what you can be doing to prepare yourself for success after retirement from your sport.

Over the past couple of years I have been seeing a lot of Division 1 football teams start programs that help prepare their athletes for life after ball. However, one program in particular has caught my eye and in my opinion is doing it better than all the rest. San Jose State University’s Beyond Football program should be looked to as the gold standard of this group of athlete preparedness curriculums and I got to talk with the mastermind behind it all. Tobruk Blaine is the Director of Beyond Football at San Jose State University and serves as the position coach of life on the team. Prior to building the SJSU Beyond Football program from the ground up, Tobruk was an award-winning educator and championship cheerleading coach. In this interview we talk about how Tobruk’s past experiences as an athlete, teacher and coach influenced the structure of her program and she gives us advice on what you can be doing to prepare yourself for success after retirement from your sport.

Dr. Jason Levy is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician and serves as the team chiropractor for New York Jets, New York Red Bulls and the New Jersey Devils. Dr. Levy is also the owner of the Advanced Performance and Rehabilitation Center in Short Hills, NJ. I first met Dr. Levy while I was working at Atlantic Sports Health and it didn’t take long for me to notice how hard working, caring and knowledgable Dr. Levy is. I often say that Dr. Levy is the kind of person that when he walks in the room your day immediately gets better. I have a feeling that this listening to this podcast will have the same effect. As an athlete growing up, I never would have thought to go to a chiropractor for injuries not related to the spine. In this episode of the podcast Dr. Levy debunks this myth and teaches us about the role chiropractors play in the sports medicine mix. Below are some talking points we touch on throughout the interview: The inspiration behind Dr. Levy becoming a Sports Chiropractor. Where chiropractors fit into the sports medicine mix. The similarities to physical therapists and athletic trainers and how they all work together. Importance of communication between providers. The importance of looking at the whole body and not just where it hurts. Why Dr. Levy is the busiest guy on game days. Why an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The mindset of athletes coming into his office when it comes to injury prevention. Why parents need to make sure their kids lifestyles are aligned with their athletic goals and why Fortnite might be able to help. Just because someone doesn’t have pain doesn’t mean they are in the clear. Why pro athletes are great compensators. Why getting proper sleep is important in injury recovery/prevention. The importance of patience in recovery. Addressing performance leaks. The difference between the athletes he sees (soccer, hockey, football). Dr. Levy’s role throughout the seasons with the different sports. What goes on in the locker room pre-game. Why wide receivers want the tire shine. What makes a resilient athlete. WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH DR. LEVY ONLINE? WEBSITE | LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK | TWITTER Download Episode 150 : iTunes | Stitcher

Dr. Jason Levy is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician and serves as the team chiropractor for New York Jets, New York Red Bulls and the New Jersey Devils. Dr. Levy is also the owner of the Advanced Performance and Rehabilitation Center in Short Hills, NJ. I first met Dr. Levy while I was working at Atlantic Sports Health and it didn’t take long for me to notice how hard working, caring and knowledgable Dr. Levy is. I often say that Dr. Levy is the kind of person that when he walks in the room your day immediately gets better. I have a feeling that this listening to this podcast will have the same effect. As an athlete growing up, I never would have thought to go to a chiropractor for injuries not related to the spine. In this episode of the podcast Dr. Levy debunks this myth and teaches us about the role chiropractors play in the sports medicine mix. Below are some talking points we touch on throughout the interview: The inspiration behind Dr. Levy becoming a Sports Chiropractor. Where chiropractors fit into the sports medicine mix. The similarities to physical therapists and athletic trainers and how they all work together. Importance of communication between providers. The importance of looking at the whole body and not just where it hurts. Why Dr. Levy is the busiest guy on game days. Why an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The mindset of athletes coming into his office when it comes to injury prevention. Why parents need to make sure their kids lifestyles are aligned with their athletic goals and why Fortnite might be able to help. Just because someone doesn’t have pain doesn’t mean they are in the clear. Why pro athletes are great compensators. Why getting proper sleep is important in injury recovery/prevention. The importance of patience in recovery. Addressing performance leaks. The difference between the athletes he sees (soccer, hockey, football). Dr. Levy’s role throughout the seasons with the different sports. What goes on in the locker room pre-game. Why wide receivers want the tire shine. What makes a resilient athlete. WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH DR. LEVY ONLINE? WEBSITE | LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK | TWITTER Download Episode 150 : iTunes | Stitcher 

Dr. Jason Campbell is a graduate from THE Ohio State University College of Medicine and was a Division III All-American track and field athlete at Emory University. He is currently a physician resident in the Department of Anesthesiology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. By chance I came across Dr. Campbell’s Seattle Times article titled “Why Not You? Young Minds Can Dream Big Beyond Sports” all the way across the country in New Jersey. Thank God for Google News alerts! It didn’t take too much digging to realize that I needed to get this guy on the podcast. Dr. Campbell is a living and breathing example for young athletes that you can be successful in athletics all while setting yourself up for a life full of achievement after sports. Check out some of our talking points below: “YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR STARS LIKE MY FATHER DID.” Why RG III’s story inspired him to write THIS ARTICLE. The influence Dr. Campbell’s parents had on his identity beyond sports. Dr. Campbell’s transition to life after track. Distract yourself with something you love. The importance of continuing to have highlights. Boys of Fall music video (the highlights don’t come every Friday night anymore) “I WAS ENERGIZED BEING IN THE PHYSICS LAB KNOWING THAT I WAS GOING TO PRACTICE AFTER.” Dr. Campbell’s Playbook For Building Identity outside of sports Excellence comes in all shades Dream big “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” From waitlisted to President ARTICLE Find a mentor who believes in your vision. How to find a mentor and keep one! Ask yourself, why not you? “EITHER YOU RUN FAST, OR YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD COLLEGE.” What true passion for a sport looks like. Injuries Dr. Campbell experienced during his athletic career. Why adversity leads to opportunities . WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH DR. CAMPBELL ONLINE? BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM Download Episode 149 : iTunes | Stitcher

Dr. Jason Campbell is a graduate from THE Ohio State University College of Medicine and was a Division III All-American track and field athlete at Emory University. He is currently a physician resident in the Department of Anesthesiology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. By chance I came across Dr. Campbell’s Seattle Times article titled “Why Not You? Young Minds Can Dream Big Beyond Sports” all the way across the country in New Jersey. Thank God for Google News alerts! It didn’t take too much digging to realize that I needed to get this guy on the podcast. Dr. Campbell is a living and breathing example for young athletes that you can be successful in athletics all while setting yourself up for a life full of achievement after sports. Check out some of our talking points below: “YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR STARS LIKE MY FATHER DID.” Why RG III’s story inspired him to write THIS ARTICLE. The influence Dr. Campbell’s parents had on his identity beyond sports. Dr. Campbell’s transition to life after track. Distract yourself with something you love. The importance of continuing to have highlights. Boys of Fall music video (the highlights don’t come every Friday night anymore) “I WAS ENERGIZED BEING IN THE PHYSICS LAB KNOWING THAT I WAS GOING TO PRACTICE AFTER.” Dr. Campbell’s Playbook For Building Identity outside of sports Excellence comes in all shades Dream big “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” From waitlisted to President ARTICLE Find a mentor who believes in your vision. How to find a mentor and keep one! Ask yourself, why not you? “EITHER YOU RUN FAST, OR YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD COLLEGE.” What true passion for a sport looks like. Injuries Dr. Campbell experienced during his athletic career. Why adversity leads to opportunities . WHERE CAN YOU CONNECT WITH DR. CAMPBELL ONLINE? BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM Download Episode 149 : iTunes | Stitcher 

While I was playing Spikeball with some bros on the beaches of Marco Island, FL after the Winans-Ouano wedding, I spotted another guest whose energy made him stick out from the rest. It could have been the canvas bucket hat Dr. Jonathan Hartman was wearing, because I also respect a guy who blocks up in defense of those UV rays. Or maybe it was the camera hanging from his neck, which looked like he should be taking pictures of the World Series or Super Bowl, rather than a few washed up athletes (with above average fitness levels) diving to save a rubber ball from hitting the white sand. Whatever it was, I knew I had to talk to this guy, and I am glad that I did because it turns out we are actually brothers from another mother. Dr. Jonathan Hartman is a Chiropractic Functional Neurologist and a former college football player at Muhlenberg College. A chiropractic neurologist is a highly trained and qualified expert of the brain, spine, and nervous system. As in medicine, the chiropractic profession also has specialists who provide evaluations and second opinions for other physicians in healthcare. Dr. Hartman uses the patient’s body and environment to assess, diagnose and localize areas of dysfunction. The systems of the human body are constantly affecting the neurological system and being effected by the neurological system. As a chiropractic neurologist, Dr. Hartman employs this functional and holistic approach to target interventions specific to the location of the dysfunction. In this interview, Dr. Hartman takes us through some injuries he suffered throughout his athletic career and how they influenced how he treats his patients today. Specifically, we focus on how he approaches treatment on patients who suffered concussions and TBI through the use of his own personal experience with concussion and his patient’s success stories.

While I was playing Spikeball with some bros on the beaches of Marco Island, FL after the Winans-Ouano wedding, I spotted another guest whose energy made him stick out from the rest. It could have been the canvas bucket hat Dr. Jonathan Hartman was wearing, because I also respect a guy who blocks up in defense of those UV rays. Or maybe it was the camera hanging from his neck, which looked like he should be taking pictures of the World Series or Super Bowl, rather than a few washed up athletes (with above average fitness levels) diving to save a rubber ball from hitting the white sand. Whatever it was, I knew I had to talk to this guy, and I am glad that I did because it turns out we are actually brothers from another mother. Dr. Jonathan Hartman is a Chiropractic Functional Neurologist and a former college football player at Muhlenberg College. A chiropractic neurologist is a highly trained and qualified expert of the brain, spine, and nervous system. As in medicine, the chiropractic profession also has specialists who provide evaluations and second opinions for other physicians in healthcare. Dr. Hartman uses the patient’s body and environment to assess, diagnose and localize areas of dysfunction. The systems of the human body are constantly affecting the neurological system and being effected by the neurological system. As a chiropractic neurologist, Dr. Hartman employs this functional and holistic approach to target interventions specific to the location of the dysfunction. In this interview, Dr. Hartman takes us through some injuries he suffered throughout his athletic career and how they influenced how he treats his patients today. Specifically, we focus on how he approaches treatment on patients who suffered concussions and TBI through the use of his own personal experience with concussion and his patient’s success stories.

The emphasis on player safety in football has undoubtably increased over the last decade. This emphasis on player safety has in some ways created a divide between the “Old School” and “New School” definitions of toughness and how the game was “meant” to be played. At times, it seems like most people want to toe the line between these two schools of thought. Big hits are exciting, just like the wrecks in NASCAR and Formula 1 are. In most cases the athletes dust themselves off and live to play another down and drive another race. However, in some cases these big hits or wrecks can be life-changing. I use football and motorsport as examples here because both sports have evolved tremendously since their inception to improve player safety. Rules and equipment evolve to prevent injuries, especially the catastrophic ones. It’s about time we all start embracing the evolution of sports and prioritize safety over everything. In this episode of the pod I chat with former Fayetteville State University teammates Tracey Suggs and Foster Wilkins about why they shifted their mentalities from “Old School” to “New School” and their bold idea to create a brand called Protect Your Skull that reminds everyone what is really important.

The emphasis on player safety in football has undoubtably increased over the last decade. This emphasis on player safety has in some ways created a divide between the “Old School” and “New School” definitions of toughness and how the game was “meant” to be played. At times, it seems like most people want to toe the line between these two schools of thought. Big hits are exciting, just like the wrecks in NASCAR and Formula 1 are. In most cases the athletes dust themselves off and live to play another down and drive another race. However, in some cases these big hits or wrecks can be life-changing. I use football and motorsport as examples here because both sports have evolved tremendously since their inception to improve player safety. Rules and equipment evolve to prevent injuries, especially the catastrophic ones. It’s about time we all start embracing the evolution of sports and prioritize safety over everything. In this episode of the pod I chat with former Fayetteville State University teammates Tracey Suggs and Foster Wilkins about why they shifted their mentalities from “Old School” to “New School” and their bold idea to create a brand called Protect Your Skull that reminds everyone what is really important.

One day when I was watching YouTube videos I randomly came across the video below, which featured the story of Joey Maxim. Joey was a three-sport athlete (basketball, soccer and lacrosse) and had aspirations to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point after high school. All of this changed in an instant when Joey was involved in a car accident that left him with life threatening injuries and included a TBI. Like myself and many frequenters of the podcast, Joey received the news from his doctors that he would never be able to play sports, ride quads, or do anything that required a helmet again. At the time it seemed like everything he loved to do, until he tied his first fly while recovering from his TBI.

One day when I was watching YouTube videos I randomly came across the video below, which featured the story of Joey Maxim. Joey was a three-sport athlete (basketball, soccer and lacrosse) and had aspirations to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point after high school. All of this changed in an instant when Joey was involved in a car accident that left him with life threatening injuries and included a TBI. Like myself and many frequenters of the podcast, Joey received the news from his doctors that he would never be able to play sports, ride quads, or do anything that required a helmet again. At the time it seemed like everything he loved to do, until he tied his first fly while recovering from his TBI.

Dr. Theresa Larson is the president of Movement RX, host of the “My New Normal” podcast, author of the book “Warrior: True Strength isn’t always what it looks like,” former Marine Corps Engineer Officer and combat veteran, physical therapist, Mobility WOD Speaker and a former All- American division-one softball player. By chance, I came across Dr. Larson’s LinkedIn post (below) and I felt an immediate connection to her mission because it seemed like we were both speaking the same language. After having the opportunity to speak with her on the podcast, it turns out we really are speaking the same language!

Dr. Theresa Larson is the president of Movement RX, host of the “My New Normal” podcast, author of the book “Warrior: True Strength isn’t always what it looks like,” former Marine Corps Engineer Officer and combat veteran, physical therapist, Mobility WOD Speaker and a former All- American division-one softball player. By chance, I came across Dr. Larson’s LinkedIn post (below) and I felt an immediate connection to her mission because it seemed like we were both speaking the same language. After having the opportunity to speak with her on the podcast, it turns out we really are speaking the same language!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 Super Bowl Week of the 2018 season!  

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 Super Bowl Week of the 2018 season!  

In week two of my senior season, I separated my shoulder when I tried to run over a linebacker (like any typical caveman would). I continued to play through that injury and as a result, began to favor my opposite shoulder. Not surprisingly, I ended up with two bum shoulders and was forced to initiate contact with my head. Looking back, the whole rationale sounds ridiculous and idiotic, but with an underdeveloped frontal lobe, football glory preceded everything. Recently I have began to think that with all the attention paid to head injuries in football (and rightfully so), we are forgetting about the other injuries common to the sport. Bob Broderick began his career in sports at the ripe age of fourteen, as a ball boy and part-time assistant in the New York Giants equipment department. While working in sports media and marketing, Bob teamed up with Ted Monica who has been an innovator in protective equipment design and manufacturing for nearly three decades . Together they formed XTECH Protective Equipment, which is winning over the preferences of professional and college football players.

In week two of my senior season, I separated my shoulder when I tried to run over a linebacker (like any typical caveman would). I continued to play through that injury and as a result, began to favor my opposite shoulder. Not surprisingly, I ended up with two bum shoulders and was forced to initiate contact with my head. Looking back, the whole rationale sounds ridiculous and idiotic, but with an underdeveloped frontal lobe, football glory preceded everything. Recently I have began to think that with all the attention paid to head injuries in football (and rightfully so), we are forgetting about the other injuries common to the sport. Bob Broderick began his career in sports at the ripe age of fourteen, as a ball boy and part-time assistant in the New York Giants equipment department. While working in sports media and marketing, Bob teamed up with Ted Monica who has been an innovator in protective equipment design and manufacturing for nearly three decades . Together they formed XTECH Protective Equipment, which is winning over the preferences of professional and college football players.

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 19 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 19 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 18 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 18 of the 2018 season!

In episode 143 I had the privilege of interviewing the founders of CAN Recover, Aaron Rocha (retired Babson College lacrosse player) and Mike Santee (retired Army hockey player). CAN Recover was inspired by Aaron and Mike’s experience and their realization of a communal need for individuals suffering from post concussion syndrome. Both Aaron and Mike battled post-concussion syndrome for up to 2 years and were withheld from returning to the sports they love. Through their experiences, they realized that there is no effective support available for student-athletes like themselves. Seeing how much impact they had on each other’s recoveries by providing empathetic support, they immediately wanted to start helping others overcome the physical and emotional challenges of a prolonged concussion recovery.

In episode 143 I had the privilege of interviewing the founders of CAN Recover, Aaron Rocha (retired Babson College lacrosse player) and Mike Santee (retired Army hockey player). CAN Recover was inspired by Aaron and Mike’s experience and their realization of a communal need for individuals suffering from post concussion syndrome. Both Aaron and Mike battled post-concussion syndrome for up to 2 years and were withheld from returning to the sports they love. Through their experiences, they realized that there is no effective support available for student-athletes like themselves. Seeing how much impact they had on each other’s recoveries by providing empathetic support, they immediately wanted to start helping others overcome the physical and emotional challenges of a prolonged concussion recovery.

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 17 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 17 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 16 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 16 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 15 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 15 of the 2018 season!

After each week of NFL football games for the 2018- 2019 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.   The strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd.  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.   Dr. Wazim Buksh "Waz" is the newest member to the Heads 'N Tales team and has been a long time friend of mine.   Waz will serve as the medical expert in these recordings to give you the most realistic expectations for when your favorite players go down with an injury and what their road to recovery will look like.  Dr. Buksh is board certified in both Internal and Sports Medicine. Waz completed his sports medicine fellowship with the New York Jets medical staff in 2014. 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 14 of the 2018 season!