In this episode, join Dr. Chris Nowinski, a former WWE Star, Harvard alumnus, and co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Network, as he shares his personal journey into brain health advocacy.... After sustaining numerous head injuries from playing football and wrestling, which ultimately led to his retirement due to post-concussion syndrome, Nowinski realized he was "completely ignorant" about the damage he had been doing to his brain. His experience with debilitating symptoms like chronic headaches, cognitive fog, short-term memory issues, and REM behavior disorder fueled his deep dive into researching brain injuries and advocating for better understanding and recovery.... He emphasizes that while his brain did recover and rewire over time, getting "kicked in the head too many times" had a profound and lasting impact. The conversation primarily focuses on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and its impact on individuals and families. A major misperception addressed is that concussions are the primary drivers of CTE risk; instead, subclinical traumatic brain injury – hits without obvious symptoms – causes microscopic brain damage that accumulates over time, putting individuals at risk even without a diagnosed concussion. Nowinski, as a parent, discusses the difficult choices parents face regarding sports like football, rugby, ice hockey, and soccer, which carry significant head injury risks, advocating for a "stop hitting kids in the head" campaign. He highlights that objective benefits of these sports often do not outweigh the risk of CTE, and that other activities can foster toughness without head trauma. The episode also touches on strategies for families to approach loved ones suspected of having concussions or CTE, and the hope offered by emerging technologies in identifying and treating these conditions.
What if it’s not the concussions, but the unnoticed hits to the head that cause the most damage?
In this episode of Conversations with Intent, host Arden O’Connor speaks with Dr. Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Harvard graduate, and former WWE star. After suffering multiple head injuries in football and wrestling, Dr. Nowinski was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and became a leading voice in the fight to protect brain health.
He discusses the often-misunderstood condition Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and explains how subclinical brain trauma—impacts that don’t cause immediate symptoms—can accumulate and lead to long-term cognitive damage. Dr. Nowinski also reflects on the tough decisions families face when kids play high-risk sports like football, hockey, and soccer, and advocates for youth safety in athletics.
Listeners will learn how to recognize early signs of concussion or CTE, the importance of brain health education, and the hope offered by emerging technologies for diagnosis and recovery.
Topics Covered:
What causes CTE and how it differs from concussions
Dr. Nowinski’s journey from WWE to brain health advocacy
The dangers of subclinical traumatic brain injury
How parents can make informed decisions about youth sports
Strategies to talk to a loved one about concussion risks
Promising new tools for diagnosing and treating CTE
Resources & Links:
Intent Clinical: https://intentclinical.com
Email: conversations@intentclinical.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intentclinical
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intentclinical
LinkedIn (Intent Clinical): https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentclinical
Arden O’Connor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arden-o-connor-87715b/
Concussion Legacy Foundation: https://concussionfoundation.org