Before We Judge: Brain Injury, CTE & The Human Behind the Headlines

Can Light Heal the Brain? Dr. Larry Carr's Groundbreaking Football & Brain Recovery Research

What if the future of treating brain injuries isn't another medication—but light? Former BYU Hall of Fame linebacker Dr. Larry Carr shares how brain trauma nearly destroyed his life before an experimental light therapy changed everything. Today, he's helping lead groundbreaking research showing measurable improvements in brain inflammation, cognition, mood, and athletic performance. From football and CTE to PTSD, depression, and the future of brain recovery, this conversation explores why many experts believe we're entering a completely new era of brain health. For decades we've been told that brain injuries simply have to be managed. What if that isn't true? In this powerful episode of the HeadRush Podcast, Paul Frase and Corey Berry sit down with former BYU Hall of Fame linebacker and exercise physiologist Dr. Larry Carr to discuss his remarkable journey—from debilitating symptoms believed to be related to repetitive head trauma to becoming part of groundbreaking research into photobiomodulation (near-infrared light therapy). Dr. Carr shares: • His football career and the cognitive demands of elite athletes • The devastating symptoms that forced him to retire • Meeting Dr. Ann McKee and Dr. Robert Stern at Boston University • How photobiomodulation changed his own life • The University of Utah research • The BYU football study showing remarkable MRI findings • What inflammation really means after repetitive head impacts • Why athletes, veterans, first responders, and others living with brain trauma deserve hope Whether you're an athlete, veteran, first responder, caregiver, or simply interested in brain health, this episode offers an honest discussion about emerging science and the future of recovery. Please Like, Subscribe, Follow and Share. Every share helps us reach someone who may be searching for hope. A special thank you to our incredible sponsors: • Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation • Millennium Health Centers • Millennium Health Store • Paradise Behavioral Health • MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S • Ambio Life Sciences • Vielight, Inc. Interested in photobiomodulation? Visit Vielight, Inc. and use discount code: HEADRUSHVL to receive your exclusive HeadRush community discount.

Before We Judge: Brain Injury, CTE & The Human Behind the Headlines

When former NFL player Aldon Smith passed away, public conversation quickly shifted toward his past struggles.  But is that the complete story? In this episode of the HeadRush Podcast, Paul Frase, Corey Berry, and former Oregon State linebacker Rico Petrini explore the growing tendency to blame character before considering brain health. Together they discuss repeated head impacts (RHI), CTE, addiction, impulsivity, mood changes, and why neurological injury deserves serious consideration—not dismissal. The conversation also examines recent public comments questioning CTE, why broad assumptions can harm families seeking answers, and why compassion and scientific investigation should come before judgment. This episode isn't about excusing harmful behavior. It's about recognizing the complex relationship between brain injury, mental health, addiction, and the lives of former athletes. Special thanks to our sponsors who help make these conversations possible: • Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation • Ambio Life Sciences • Millennium Health Centers • Millennium Health Store • Paradise Behavioral Health – Brain Well Program • MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S Together, we remain committed to one mission: How to Cope. Find Hope.

When Brain Trauma Changes Everything: The Symptoms of CTE, TES, TBI & Repeated Head Impacts

What happens when memory loss, depression, brain fog, impulsive behavior, balance problems, and even suicidal thoughts start becoming part of everyday life? In this episode, Paul Frase and Corey Berry break down the symptoms commonly associated with CTE, TES, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and repeated head impacts (RHI). Drawing from their own experiences and current research, they discuss how these symptoms can affect thinking, emotions, relationships, daily functioning, and overall quality of life. More importantly, they explore the question many people are asking: Are these symptoms simply mental health struggles—or could they be signs of brain injury? Memory loss. Brain fog. Depression. Mood swings. Difficulty concentrating. Suicidal thoughts. Balance problems. Are these simply mental health challenges—or could they be connected to a history of brain trauma? In this episode of The HeadRush Podcast, former NFL player Paul Frase and former professional rodeo athlete Corey Berry discuss the symptoms commonly associated with: 🧠 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) 🧠 Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES) 🧠 Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 🧠 Repeated Head Impacts (RHI) 🧠 Repeated Blast Exposure (RBE) Using research from institutions like Boston University and the Mayo Clinic, alongside their own lived experiences, Paul and Corey explore how brain injuries can affect memory, executive function, emotional regulation, impulsivity, depression, addiction, movement disorders, Parkinsonism symptoms, and overall brain health. They also discuss the therapies, treatments, and strategies that have helped them continue moving forward while living with the long-term effects of brain trauma. If you're dealing with brain injury symptoms—or supporting someone who is—this episode is for you. The HeadRush Podcast's mission remains simple: How to Cope and Find Hope. This episode is made possible by the support of: • Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation [https://stopcte.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] • Millennium Health Centers • Millennium Health Store [https://millenniumhealthstore.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] • Paradise Behavioral Health & BrainWell Program [https://paradisebehavioral.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] • MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S • Ambio Life Sciences Subscribe for more conversations about brain health, recovery, education, and hope. #CTE #TES #TBI #BrainInjury #BrainHealth #Concussion #MentalHealth #NeuroHealth #HeadRushPodcast

What's Actually Helping? Our Brain Health Progress

For the first time, Paul Frase and Corey Berry sit down to openly discuss what's changed over the last six months. From the Brain Well Program and hormone testing to photobiomodulation, supplements, nutrition, and brain injury recovery, they share the therapies they're using, the progress they've seen, and the challenges they still face every day. If you've ever wondered whether healing is possible after repeated head impacts, traumatic brain injury, or years of neurological struggles, this conversation is for you. What happens when two former athletes stop accepting "this is just how life is now" and start searching for answers? In this episode, Paul Frase and Corey Berry take a deep dive into their personal brain health journeys and discuss the therapies, treatments, and lifestyle changes they've explored. They share their experiences with: • The Brain Well Program with Dr. Mizell DeMayo • Precision Psychiatry and personalized treatment plans • The Millennium Protocol and hormone optimization • Bloodwork, genetics, biomarkers, and inflammation • Supplements and nutrition strategies • Photobiomodulation (red light therapy) • Mental health versus brain health • Finding doctors who understand repeated head impacts • Helping others navigate traumatic brain injury recovery • Why hope matters when recovery feels impossible They also discuss helping individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injury, repeated head impacts, blast exposure, TES, and CTE find resources, treatment options, and support. Throughout the conversation, they share lessons learned from their own recovery journeys and explain why continuing to fight for better brain health matters. A major theme of this episode is simple: There is hope. Recovery may not happen overnight, but there are doctors, researchers, treatments, and communities working every day to help people reclaim their lives after brain injury. Special Thanks To Our Sponsors 🧠 Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation 🧠 Millennium Health Centers 🧠 Millennium Health Store 🧠 Paradise Behavioral Health 🧠 MC Wellness – Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S 🧠 Ambio Life Sciences The HeadRush Foundation helps individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injury, repeated head impacts, blast exposure, and related neurological challenges access education, resources, support, and hope. Because our mission remains the same: How to Cope. How to Find Hope.

Pete Kennedy: The Brain Donation That Changed Everything

A year after rodeo legend Pete Kennedy's death, his family finally received answers. His brain was donated to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, where scientists searched for evidence of CTE and the lasting effects of repeated head impacts. What they discovered brought validation, new questions, and a deeper understanding of the invisible struggles Pete faced. When rodeo cowboy Pete Kennedy tragically lost his life, his family was left searching for answers. In this powerful follow-up episode, Pete's son KC Kennedy returns to The HeadRush Podcast alongside neuropathologist Dr. Julia Kofler from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology—the physician who personally examined Pete's brain after it was donated for research. Together, they walk through the brain donation process, the autopsy findings, what researchers discovered, and the difficult reality that science is still uncovering the full impact of repeated head trauma. This conversation explores CTE, traumatic brain injury, mental health, grief, brain donation, and the urgent need for continued research. It also highlights the courage of families who choose to turn tragedy into knowledge that may help future generations of athletes, veterans, and anyone exposed to repeated head impacts. Whether you're a parent, athlete, coach, veteran, medical professional, or someone seeking answers about brain health, this episode is an important reminder that awareness, research, and hope continue to move us forward. Topics Covered: • Pete Kennedy's brain donation • CTE research and diagnosis • Repeated head impacts in rodeo • Mental health and brain trauma • Brain banking and autopsy science • The role of families in advancing research • Hope for future generations Supported by: Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation | Millennium Health Centers | Millennium Health Store | Paradise Behavioral Health | MC Wellness If these conversations matter to you, please support The HeadRush Foundation and help us continue raising awareness, education, and hope for those affected by brain trauma.