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In this episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re joined by Ian Greener. A lifelong contributor to football as a player, coach, educator, and dedicated advocate for player safety. Ian’s career began in 1970s England with Middlesbrough FC, where he trained alongside legends like Bill Gates. After moving to Australia, he became a key figure in the sport’s development — coaching in the old National Soccer League, co-founding the soccer program at the Victorian Institute of Sport, and serving as the State Director of Coaching.

With over a decade as Head Coach at Rowville Sports Academy and as the founder of AFCAT (now part of Football Coaches Australia), Ian has shaped generations of players and coaches. Now Chair of FCA’s Technical Committee, he leads national coach education initiatives. In recent years, Ian has focused his efforts on concussion awareness, working with Head Safe Football UK to deliver seminars across Australia. He brings a deeply informed and personal perspective to the growing conversation around head trauma and CTE in football.

- Ian’s Football Journey from Middlesbrough to Australia (02:00)

- Sharing Changerooms with Legends of the Game and Around the Grounds (07:00)

- Ian’s Connection with Bill and the Gates Family (14:00)

- What Head Safe Football is about (22:32)

- The Doctrine of Football Coaching (27:00)

- Coronial Inquest (29:10)

- Brain Health, Concussion, CTE and Repetitive Head Impacts at Training (30:30)

- Head Safe Football Game, its meaning and Alternate Training Solutions (36:24)

- What Happens and Outcomes of Repetitive Head Impacts (42:20)

- English and Scottish FA Guidelines (47:48)

- Old vs New Ball Weight/Sizes and Repetitive Head Impacts (50:41)

- Reducing Exposure of Heading (52:33)

- Favourite Moments in Football (56:43)

Head Safe Football:

Head Safe Football: https://headsafefootball.org.uk

Social Media:

Instagram: headsafefootball

Facebook: Head Safe Football

Twitter/X: @headsafecharity

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Twitter: @first concussion

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Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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In this episode of Headfirst: A Concussion Podcast, we’re honoured to welcome Dr Judith Gates — educator, researcher, and founder of Head Safe Football. With a distinguished career spanning education and strategic planning, including roles at Harvard and Stanford, Dr. Gates now channels her expertise into raising awareness about sports-related brain injuries. Inspired by the legacy of her late husband, former professional footballer Bill Gates, she is a leading voice in the fight to protect athletes from the dangers of repetitive head impacts.

- Bill and Judith Gates Legacy (01:30)

- Repetitive Head Impacts in Bills Playing Career (07:30)

- Noticing the signs and Symptoms of Dementia (09:34)

- Diagnosis (13:00)

- Head Safe Football (18:57) – ‘Think Head Safe, Reduce Heading in Training’

- It’s Not the Old Heavy Footballs Myth (23:29)

- Head Safe Charity Match Results (24:50)

- Cost of Care (29:55)

- Head Safe Football Detail (35:20)

- Favourite Memories (38:00)

Head Safe Football:

https://headsafefootball.org.uk

hello@headsafefootball.org.uk

Twitter: @headsafecharity

IG:@headsafefootball

Facebook: Head Safe Football

Linkedin: Head Safe Football

No-brainer: A Footballer’s Story of Life, Love and Brain Injury

https://www.amazon.com.au/No-brainer-Footballers-Story-Brain-Injury/dp/1914487230

Social media:

Twitter: @first concussion

Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast

Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion

Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com

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In this episode, we’re joined by Julie, whose MMA career spans over a decade with appearances in top-tier promotions like EliteXC, Strikeforce, and the UFC. Her 2007 fight with Gina Carano remains a landmark moment in combat sports history, showcasing the skill and legitimacy of women in MMA. After retiring from competition, Julie transitioned to broadcasting and has since become a leading voice in the industry through her insightful analysis with Invicta Fighting Championships. Beyond the cage, Julie has built a diverse career in film and television, with roles in 50 to 1, Transcendence, Bruised, Longmire, and the docuseries Dark Side of the Cage. She also brings a strong academic background to her work, holding a BA in English Literature and an MFA in Nonfiction Writing.

- How Julie Become Involved in Combat Sport’s (02:20)

- Women’s Exposure in Combat Sports (06:00)

- Invicta Fight Championship (09:30)

- Concussion in MMA (17:46)

- Motivation of and Contracts of Combat Athlete (25:00)

- Identify of Combat Athletes and Power Slap (32:30)

- Commentating at Invicta Fight Championship (38:15)

- Donating Brain to Research (43:03)

- Favorited or memorable moments (48:38)

- Where to Find Julie (56:00)

Julie Kedzie:

Invicta FC: https://invictafc.com/?doing_wp_cron=1753280154.2752580642700195312500

Instagram: @julesk_fighter

Blue Sky: @julesk_fighter

Social media:

Twitter: @first concussion

Facebook: Headfirst: A concussion podcast

Instagram: Headfirst_ Concussion

Email: headfirstconcussion@gmail.com