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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mantra of the episode: Stronger together.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Millennium Health Centers

• Millennium Health Store

• Paradise Behavioral Health

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#HeadRushPodcast #YearInReview #BrainHealth #BrainInjuryAwareness #TBI #ConcussionAwareness #CTE #RepeatedHeadImpacts #MentalHealthSupport #CommunityHope #StopCTE #PatrickRishaCTEAwareness #MillenniumHealthCenters #MillenniumProtocol #MCWellness #LPCS #MentalHealthEducation #StayAlertStayAlive