What happens when a former CFL player and combat veteran turns his lived experience with brain trauma into a mission to help others?
In this conversation, I sit down with Ryan Carey — former professional football player, retired Army officer with combat experience in Afghanistan, and advocate with the Concussion Legacy Foundation — to talk about one of the most overlooked injuries affecting veterans and athletes today: mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
🎟️ Live Event — Montreal, June 28th (https://ticketscene.ca/events/60673/)
Join me, Ryan Carey, and Hal Hughes for a live conversation on mental health, concussions, and what it means to be a healthy man in the 21st century— don't wait, this will sell out. https://ticketscene.ca/events/60673/
Ryan brings a rare dual perspective: he's felt the cumulative effects of both elite collision sport and combat deployments. In this episode, we break down what mTBI actually is, why it's the signature injury of the global war on terror, and — most importantly — what you can do if you suspect you're dealing with one.
We cover:
What mild TBI looks like and why it often goes undiagnosed
The link between blast exposure, repetitive subconcussive impacts, and long-term neurological decline
How symptoms like irritability, fatigue, and cognitive fog may have a biological cause
Practical steps veterans can take to start helping themselves
Ryan's work with Operation Purify and Emergent Savage — programs helping veterans heal through plant medicine and men's retreats
