Life After Impact: The Concussion Recovery Podcast

Breathwork After Concussion: How 5 Minutes of Breathing Can Calm Your Nervous System | E48

Send us a textWhat if five minutes of the right breathing could calm a racing heart, clear morning fog, and steady your balance after a concussion? Dr. Ayla Wolf sits down with chiropractic neurologist Dr. Jonathan Chung to unpack the science and the how-to of using breath as a lever for healing. We dig into why the brainstem’s respiratory centers are vulnerable in acceleration-deceleration injuries like concussions, how dysautonomia and anxiety reshape breathing patterns, and where slow, resonance-frequency breathing fits into a practical recovery plan.You’ll hear how breathing can be assessed in the clinic—spotting neck-driven, shallow mechanics, rib asymmetry, and diaphragm tension. Dr. Chung explains why he often starts care with HRV biofeedback and a simple 4–6 pacing strategy, then builds tolerance gently for POTS patients or anyone prone to overstimulation. The focus is on the exhale: longer, controlled exhales increase vagal tone, reduce resting tachycardia, and give patients an immediate tool to interrupt spiraling anxiety.We also explore nasal breathing’s cognitive advantages, the role of CO2 tolerance in air hunger, and how mindful breath practices enhance cortical entrainment and neuroplasticity. From manual care to improve rib motion, to five-minute daily routines that create durable habits, the theme is empowerment. Control your breath to influence your physiology, stabilize your autonomics, and unlock clearer thinking and calmer days during concussion recovery.If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone navigating post-concussion symptoms, and leave a review so others can find these tools too.Dr. Jonathan Chung: websiteInstagram: @drjonathanchungTik Tok: @drjonathanchungFor healthcare providers - continuing education course: The Neuroscience of BreathworkREGISTER for the online global Love Your Brain Summit on March 20th-22th 2026: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/summit Get 20% off your first order of Puori protein with code LIFEAFTERIMPACT by following this link.Support the showDr. Wolf's book Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces of Concussion Recovery is now available on Amazon!What topics do you want to hear more about? What questions do you have? Email us at lifeafterimpact@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @lifeafterimpact Website: lifeafterimpact.comMedical disclaimer: this video or podcast is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and materials included is at the user's own risk. The content of this video or podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Consumers of this information should seek the advice of a medical professional for any and all health related issues.

The Path Back To Work After a Concussion with Nate Pope (Part 2) | E47

Send us a textThis is Part 2 of my conversation with Nate Pope from NCX Brain Recovery. Recovery stalls when life gets smaller. We’ve all seen it: light hurts, noise overwhelms, screens drain, so routines narrow and the brain doubles down on workarounds. We open up a different route—structured, supportive challenges that reengage vision, balance, attention, and memory together. Instead of chasing one symptom at a time, we train the whole system to find easier, more efficient pathways.We talk through the surprising number of career pivots after concussion and the practical ways others adapt their existing roles: short movement breaks, fresh air, and task rhythms that reset the nervous system. We also explore where AI can actually help—offloading busywork and cognitive clutter so people can focus on the tasks that matter. Along the way, we address a common pitfall: labeling new attention problems as ADHD. True ADHD starts in childhood; post-concussion attention issues are different, and stimulants can amplify anxiety and dysautonomia. By coordinating with prescribers, prioritizing sleep, nutrition, and targeted cardio, and using intensive therapy, many patients regain focus without medication.The heart of our approach is multi-sensory integration and cognitive flexibility. We layer eye movements, vestibular input, executive tasks, and conversation, then change the rules to build adaptability. That steady stream of achievable wins releases dopamine, rebuilds confidence, and breaks rigid patterns. Sound exposure enters when ready: mechanic shop clatter, playground chaos, crying infants—whatever mirrors real life. It’s not about flooding; it’s about training selective attention under realistic stress. fMRI findings back it up: underactive regions normalize after two weeks, and memory improves as the brain stops detouring.If you’ve been dealing with symptoms for months or years, there’s real hope. We offer free virtual consults to map your history, goals, and fit for our two‑week intensives and eight weeks of aftercare. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a path forward, and leave a review to help others find these tools. Your brain can do this—one smart step at a time.Nate Pope and NCX Brain Recovery: https://www.ncxbrainrecovery.com/REGISTER for the online global Love Your Brain Summit on March 20th-22th 2026: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/summit Get 20% off your first order of Puori protein with code LIFEAFTERIMPACT by following this link.Support the showDr. Wolf's book Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces of Concussion Recovery is now available on Amazon!What topics do you want to hear more about? What questions do you have? Email us at lifeafterimpact@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @lifeafterimpact Website: lifeafterimpact.comMedical disclaimer: this video or podcast is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and materials included is at the user's own risk. The content of this video or podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Consumers of this information should seek the advice of a medical professional for any and all health related issues.

The Path Back To Work After a Concussion with Nate Pope (Part 1) | E46

Send us a textYour brain isn’t broken; it’s rerouting. We sit down with neuro‑occupational therapist Nate Pope to unpack why so many people with post‑concussion syndrome get stuck despite doing “all the right therapies.” Nate explains how functional MRI reveals a network problem—under-fueled pathways and overworked compensations—and why isolated sessions can accidentally train the detours instead of restoring efficient routes. If headaches spike during vision drills or screen time wipes you out, this conversation will reframe what effective rehab looks like.We walk through a practical model of whole‑brain, multi‑sensory integration that engages visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, and executive systems at once. Picture standing balance work while tracking targets and answering questions—tasks that block unhealthy shortcuts and demand true coordination. Nate  shows how intensity and variety drive neuroplastic change that holds up outside the clinic. You’ll hear why once‑a‑week tune‑ups fall short and how a two‑week intensive plus eight weeks of aftercare creates momentum.The toughest bridge is getting back to work. We outline a smarter ramp that prevents relapse: simulate job tasks in therapy, expand screen time and cognitive load only when symptoms stay stable, and follow the golden rule that slow is fast. For many, the difference comes down to advocacy—clear communication with employers about reduced hours, planned breaks, moderated visual demand, and why that approach gets employees back to full capacity sooner. If you’ve felt unseen because your symptoms are invisible, this episode offers language, tools, and a roadmap for real progress.If this helped, follow the show, share it with someone navigating concussion recovery, and leave a review so others can find these strategies. Got topics you want us to tackle next? Email lifeafterimpact at gmail.com.Nate Pope and NCX Brain Recovery: https://www.ncxbrainrecovery.com/REGISTER for the online global Love Your Brain Summit on March 20th-22th 2026: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/summit Get 20% off your first order of Puori protein with code LIFEAFTERIMPACT by following this link.Support the showDr. Wolf's book Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces of Concussion Recovery is now available on Amazon!What topics do you want to hear more about? What questions do you have? Email us at lifeafterimpact@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @lifeafterimpact Website: lifeafterimpact.comMedical disclaimer: this video or podcast is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and materials included is at the user's own risk. The content of this video or podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Consumers of this information should seek the advice of a medical professional for any and all health related issues.

How the Love Your Brain Foundation Turns Isolation Into Community For TBI Survivors And Caregivers | E45

Send us a textWhat if the most powerful medicine after a brain injury is feeling truly seen? We sit down with Kyla Pearce, Senior Director of Programs and Research at the Love Your Brain foundation, to explore how connection, mind‑body practices, and practical education can restore confidence, calm, and everyday momentum for people with TBI and their caregivers.Kyla shares the story behind the foundation, launched after pro snowboarder Kevin Pearce’s traumatic brain injury, and the gap they set out to close: the lonely, confusing stretch after acute care. We unpack how free programs—delivered in person, online, and in hospital settings—blend yoga, mindfulness, brain health nutrition, and resilience education to address mental, physical, and social needs. You’ll hear how groups are designed to be both trauma‑informed and TBI‑informed, with predictable structure, sensory‑aware cueing, and space for honest conversation. We also break down the core class arc: targeted breathwork, chair‑based movement for balance and mobility, guided meditation, and a resilience lesson like realistic optimism that ties skills to daily life.Evidence matters here. Kyla walks through their large pre‑post studies showing significant gains in quality of life, mood, cognition, resilience, and behavioral regulation among community participants. That real‑world data helps clinicians refer with confidence and gives families a bridge from discharge to long‑term living. We also look ahead to March 20–22, 2026, when Love Your Brain hosts a three‑day online summit featuring leaders in functional neurology, mindfulness science, habit formation, and photobiomodulation. Expect candid, research‑grounded conversations about what works, what’s emerging, and how to navigate device hype, dosing, and trade‑offs without getting lost.If you or someone you love is recovering from concussion or TBI, this conversation offers clarity, hope, and concrete next steps—from nature‑based retreats and caregiver programming to accessible online groups you can join from home. Explore the lineup and join the community at loveyourbrain.com/summit, then subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show.REGISTER for the online global Love Your Brain Summit on March 20th-22th 2026: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/summit Get 20% off your first order of Puori protein with code LIFEAFTERIMPACT by following this link.Support the showDr. Wolf's book Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces of Concussion Recovery is now available on Amazon!What topics do you want to hear more about? What questions do you have? Email us at lifeafterimpact@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @lifeafterimpact Website: lifeafterimpact.comMedical disclaimer: this video or podcast is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and materials included is at the user's own risk. The content of this video or podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Consumers of this information should seek the advice of a medical professional for any and all health related issues.

Strategies for Thriving (not just surviving) this Holiday Season with Chaandani Kahn (Part 2) | E44

Send us a textWe share practical ways to enjoy the holidays while protecting a healing brain, focusing on blood sugar, hydration, sleep, and realistic boundaries. We reframe FOMO, practice gentle resets, and stack small wins so recovery feels doable and meaningful.• stabilizing blood sugar with planned meals and snacks• hydration strategies with minerals and travel tips• pre-event resets, breathing, and transition time• scouting quiet zones and setting exit plans• honoring sleep schedules over social pressure• scripts for showing up differently and saying no• mindset shifts away from FOMO toward self-respect• win stacking, gratitude, and tracking progress• using cues and lists to manage overloadEmail us at lifeafterimpact@gmail.com with your tips for self-care during the holidays. Connect with Chaandani at www.returntolife.ca and discover how her work is helping bridge the gap between patients and practitioners in the concussion recovery journey.Email Chaandani: hello@returntolife.caREGISTER for the online global Love Your Brain Summit on March 20th-22th 2026: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/summit Get 20% off your first order of Puori protein with code LIFEAFTERIMPACT by following this link.Support the showDr. Wolf's book Concussion Breakthrough: Discover the Missing Pieces of Concussion Recovery is now available on Amazon!What topics do you want to hear more about? What questions do you have? Email us at lifeafterimpact@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @lifeafterimpact Website: lifeafterimpact.comMedical disclaimer: this video or podcast is for general informational purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor patient relationship is formed. The use of this information and materials included is at the user's own risk. The content of this video or podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Consumers of this information should seek the advice of a medical professional for any and all health related issues.