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Are concussion prevention devices truly protecting young athletes?

In this episode, Bruce Parkman discusses:

• Brain trauma in youth sports
• The truth behind the Q-Collar
• Why developing brains are vulnerable
• Long-term effects of repetitive impacts
• What parents need to understand

Protecting the brain protects the future.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Be sure to follow, share, like, and subscribe to support brain health awareness and bring real treatments to those who need them most.

Broken Brains with Bruce Parkman is sponsored by The Mac Parkman Foundation

Support The Mac Parkman Foundation by donating today!

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CR24MY2GDUCZL

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

https://www.mpfact.com/headsmart-app/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Brain Trauma Awareness

02:47 Critique of the Q-Collar Device

05:54 The Importance of Brain Health in Youth Sports

Produced by Security Halt Media

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Retired Special Forces Master Sergeant Geoff Dardia joins Broken Brains to discuss the devastating impact of traumatic brain injury and toxic exposure on veterans.

Geoff shares his personal journey and explains how functional medicine, family support, and innovative treatments are helping veterans recover and rebuild their lives.

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing the brain requires treating the whole person.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Be sure to follow, share, like, and subscribe to support brain health awareness and bring real treatments to those who need them most

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Geoff Dardia and Veteran Brain Health
00:59 Geoff Dardia’s Special Forces Journey and Resilience
04:33 Overcoming Failure and Finding Purpose After Military Service
07:24 Understanding TBI and Brain Injury in Veterans
10:33 How Toxic Exposure Impacts Veteran Mental Health
13:25 Why Veterans Must Advocate for Their Own Health
16:32 Toxic Exposure Risks in Military Service
19:32 The Link Between Brain Injury and Mental Health Disorders
22:27 Neurological Dysfunction and Sensory Processing in Veterans
25:33 Hormone Dysfunction and Brain Injury Effects
28:27 Trauma, Military Service, and Long-Term Brain Health
31:17 The Comprehensive Operator Maintenance Program Explained
37:39 Treating Root Causes Instead of Symptoms
40:00 Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Functional Medicine
42:48 Managing Inflammation and Toxic Exposure Recovery
45:09 Lifestyle Changes That Improve Brain Health
48:00 Alternative Therapies for Brain Injury Recovery
51:13 Navigating the Medical System as a Veteran
56:43 Why Family Support Is Critical for Veteran Recovery

Task Force Dagger:

https://www.taskforcedagger.org/

Produced by Security Halt Media

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Could repetitive brain trauma be the hidden cause of mental illness in veterans — and could a Special Forces medic have accidentally found the answer?

Bruce Parkman sits down with Chief Warrant Officer Jacek — Special Forces medic, TBI survivor, and creator of the HERO Protocol — for a conversation about brain trauma, cognitive recovery, and what happens when the military can't help you heal.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How Jacek's Special Forces career shaped his understanding of brain injuries

• The real relationship between TBI and mental illness in veterans

• Why the Army couldn't treat his vestibular nerve injury — and what he did instead

• The neuroscience behind the HERO Protocol

• How omega-3 type and timing affects brain recovery

• A 150% improvement in vestibular nerve function — documented

• The veteran emails that confirmed something was working

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Repetitive Brain Trauma

02:17 Jacek Waliszewski's Background and Military Career

13:55 Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries

26:42 The HERO Protocol and Healing Strategies

29:02 The Journey of Self-Discovery

32:05 Researching Natural Remedies

34:44 The Hero Protocol Development

37:54 Finding Solutions Through Natural Supplements

40:43 The Impact of Timing on Treatment

43:31 Measuring Success and Sharing Results

48:29 Creating a Support System for Recovery

58:48 The Omega Connection: Uncovering Research and Its Impact

01:07:06 The HERO Protocol: A New Hope for Veterans

01:16:52 Innovative Solutions: From Balloons to Breakthroughs

CONNECT:

HERO Protocol: https://theheroprotocol.com/

Broken Brains Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/broken_brains_podcast/

Security Halt Media: www.securityhaltmedia.com

DISCLAIMER: This episode discusses supplements and recovery. Always consult a medical professional before beginning any supplement regimen.

Produced by Security Halt Media

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Dr. Ken Sharlin joins Broken Brains to explain how integrative neurology and functional medicine redefine mental health by treating the brain’s root causes—trauma, inflammation, and injury.

Topics Covered:
• Brain trauma and mental health
• Chronic inflammation and neurology
• Childhood trauma and brain development
• CTE and repetitive head injury
• Functional medicine for brain health

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Be sure to follow, share, like, and subscribe to support brain health awareness and bring real treatments to those who need them most.

Broken Brains with Bruce Parkman is sponsored by The Mac Parkman Foundation

Support The Mac Parkman Foundation by donating today!

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CR24MY2GDUCZL

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

https://www.mpfact.com/headsmart-app/

Chapters

00:00 Brain Trauma and Mental Health Explained
02:16 Dr. Ken Sharlin’s Path to Integrative Neurology
05:16 Why Traditional Neurology Falls Short
08:00 Integrative Neurology and Whole-Brain Healing
11:52 Limbic System Dysfunction and Hypervigilance
15:15 Chronic Inflammation and Neurological Decline
19:57 CTE and Repetitive Brain Trauma
25:50 Childhood Trauma and Brain Development
29:49 Functional Medicine Tools for Brain Health
33:23 Medication vs Root-Cause Treatment
39:05 Rethinking Mental Health Care
44:24 Emerging Brain Diagnostic Technologies
49:07 The Future of Neurology
54:06 Resources for Brain Health

Connect with Dr. Sharlin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkensharlin/

Website: https://functionalmedicine.doctor/

Produced by Security Halt Media

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Frank Larkin joins Bruce Parkman to discuss veteran brain trauma, moral injury, suicide prevention, and systemic failures following 9/11. A powerful call to action for reform and accountability.

Topics Covered:

• Repetitive brain trauma
• Veteran mental health
• Moral injury
• Suicide prevention
• VA treatment challenges
• Legislative advocacy

Chapters

00:00 Repetitive Brain Trauma in Veterans
03:40 Frank Larkin’s Journey and the Impact of 9/11
15:09 From Loss to Veteran Brain Health Advocacy
25:36 Modern Warfare and Neurological Damage
32:29 Understanding Moral Injury in Combat Veterans
34:46 Recognizing PTSD, Anxiety, and Brain Injury
36:50 Life After Separation from Military Service
39:17 Institutional Betrayal and Barriers to Care
41:02 Navigating VA Mental Health Treatment
43:36 Blast Exposure and Invisible Brain Injuries
45:36 Why Legislative Action Is Urgent
47:50 Gaps in Veteran Mental Health Care
50:37 Brain Trauma as a National Security Issue
54:41 Building a Unified Veteran Advocacy Front
57:19 Acknowledging Invisible Injuries
01:02:41 Call to Action for Veteran Mental Health Reform

Produced by Security Halt Media

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What is the hidden cost of fighting wars at sea?
In this episode of The Broken Brains Podcast, host Bruce Parkman sits down with retired U.S. Navy SWCC operator Anthony Smith to expose the long-term neurological damage caused by repetitive blast exposure and high-impact boat operations. They discuss how years of sustained force on the water can lead to traumatic brain injury (TBI), diffuse axonal injury, and what’s now known as operator syndrome. This conversation sheds light on why many veterans are misdiagnosed, under-treated, or ignored—and why awareness, advocacy, and better treatment options are urgently needed.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Be sure to follow, share, like, and subscribe to support brain health awareness and bring real treatments to those who need them most.

Broken Brains with Bruce Parkman is sponsored by The Mac Parkman Foundation

Support The Mac Parkman Foundation by donating today!

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CR24MY2GDUCZL

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

https://www.mpfact.com/headsmart-app/

Chapters

00:00 – Why Repetitive Brain Trauma Is Being Missed
02:22 – Anthony Smith’s SWCC Background
03:25 – The Physical Toll of Fast-Boat Operations
08:56 – What SWCC Operators Actually Experience
14:28 – Diffuse Axonal Injury Explained
18:54 – Survey Data on SWCC Cognitive Decline
22:21 – Military Discharges and Health Gaps
23:58 – Sustainability in Operator Health
28:24 – Beyond Pharmaceuticals: New Treatment Approaches
32:26 – VA Disability and TBI Claims
39:21 – The Future of Operator Brain Health
43:44 – Advocacy, Awareness, and Community Action

Connect with Anthony Today!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-smith-m-a-03027121/

Website: https://millenniumhealthstore.com

Operator Syndrome: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32052666/

Produced by Security Halt Media

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What happens to the brain—and identity—when the game ends?
In this episode of Broken Brains, host Bruce Parkman sits down with Kurt A. David, Emmy Award–winning TV host, producer, and former professional basketball player, to unpack the often-overlooked connection between repetitive brain trauma, mental health, and life after high-performance careers.

Kurt shares his personal journey from elite athletics to life beyond sports, revealing how brain injuries, identity loss, and unaddressed mental health challenges affect both athletes and military veterans. He introduces his Five Rules for Successful Transition—a practical framework for navigating career endings, personal reinvention, and recovery. This conversation is a powerful call for awareness, proactive care, and purpose-driven recovery for anyone facing major life transitions.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Be sure to follow, share, like, and subscribe to support brain health awareness and bring real treatments to those who need them most.

Broken Brains with Bruce Parkman is sponsored by The Mac Parkman Foundation

Support The Mac Parkman Foundation by donating today!

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CR24MY2GDUCZL

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

https://www.mpfact.com/headsmart-app/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Repetitive Brain Trauma

01:58 Kurt A. David's Journey in Sports

10:06 Transitioning from Professional Sports

12:29 The Reality of Athlete Life After Sports

19:05 Mental Health and Transition Challenges

19:41 Transitioning from Sports to Counseling

20:33 The Birth of a Book and TV Show

21:54 Inspiring Stories of Resilience

24:10 The Impact of CTE Awareness

26:46 The Emotional Toll of Transition

29:56 Five Rules for Successful Transition

37:30 The Importance of Recovery and Support

Connect with Kurt today.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-david/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurtadavidspeaks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromglorydaystv/

Produced by Security Halt Media

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What happens when brain trauma starts earlier than we realize—and recovery never truly begins?
In this episode of The Broken Brains Podcast, host Bruce Parkman sits down with neurobiologist Dr. Allison Breger to examine the growing crisis of repetitive brain trauma in youth sports and military environments. They explore how repeated head impacts, poor sleep, and cumulative exposure affect mental health, neurobiology, and long-term brain function.

This conversation highlights the risks facing young athletes—especially in gymnastics and non-contact sports—the overlooked role of sleep in brain recovery, and why year-round training without off-seasons may be setting children up for lifelong neurological challenges. Dr. Breger also shares insights from research in extreme environments, emphasizing how environmental stressors compound brain trauma and recovery demands.

This episode is a call for prevention, smarter training, and better mental health protections—especially for developing brains.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Be sure to follow, share, like, and subscribe to support brain health awareness and bring real treatments to those who need them most.

Broken Brains with Bruce Parkman is sponsored by The Mac Parkman Foundation

Support The Mac Parkman Foundation by donating today!

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CR24MY2GDUCZL

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

https://www.mpfact.com/headsmart-app/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Repetitive Brain Trauma

02:51 The Journey into Neurobiology

05:30 The Impact of Sports on Mental Health

08:20 Understanding Concussions in Non-Contact Sports

11:25 Military Operations and Brain Trauma

13:57 Protecting Developing Brains in Sports

16:48 Environmental Impacts on Human Performance

19:45 The Importance of Sleep in Recovery

22:25 Long-Term Effects of Concussions

28:21 Conclusion and Future Directions

29:32 Understanding Brain Trauma and Methylation

30:56 The Impact of Youth Sports on Mental Health

34:10 Gender Differences in Sports Injuries

36:49 NCAA Mental Health Initiatives

39:54 The Correlation Between Sports and Suicide Rates

40:44 Fascinating Studies and Personal Accomplishments

Connect with Dr. Brager today.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-brager-80a58210/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docjockzzz/

Produced by Security Halt Media