🎙️ Episode 1: Melissa Urban

A game of laser tag in 2017 changed Whole30 co-founder and CEO Melissa Urban’s life. She suffered a concussion that led to post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and persistent symptoms she still manages today. In this powerful conversation, Melissa sits down with the Concussion & CTE Foundation’s Julia Manning, who also developed PCS in 2017, to share the profound impact PCS has had on her life – from her role as a mother and leader, to her relationships and mental health.

Through honesty, vulnerability, and insight, Melissa opens up about the challenges of navigating an invisible injury, and what has helped her cope and heal along the way.

💬 About the guest: 

Melissa Urban is the co-founder and CEO of Whole30 and an authority on helping people create lifelong healthy habits. She is an eight-time New York Times bestselling author and has been featured by People, Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and CNBC. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

🎙️ Episode 2: Sydney Olson

Sydney Olson has built her career defying gravity — as a world champion parkour athlete, Hollywood stuntwoman and mindset coach. But behind the flips, falls, and fearless performances is a personal journey with concussion recovery that many would never know. In this conversation, Sydney opens up about the injuries that changed her perspective, the lessons she learned about slowing down, and why she’s grateful for the scars she carries.

💬 About the guest: 

Sydney Olson is a SAG/AFTRA stuntwoman, actress, mindset coach, professional parkour champion, and podcast host. She has performed around the world, competed in events like the Red Bull Art of Motion, and doubled actors in major productions. Through her podcast Collecting Scars, Sydney shares powerful stories of resilience, and today she brings that same openness to her own concussion journey.

🎙️ Episode 3: Anthony Bartley

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, we sit down with Anthony Bartley, a Chicago-based visual artist who transforms personal pain into creative expression. Anthony opens up about the life-altering concussion he suffered during high school soccer and the long, difficult journey that followed. From persistent post-concussion symptoms to mental health struggles and isolation, Anthony shares the unseen challenges that many brain injury survivors face every day. 

Through acceptance, vulnerability, and artistic expression, Anthony found a path forward—and a community that helped him heal. His artwork now serves as a beacon for others navigating invisible injuries, and his voice adds an important perspective to the growing conversation around mental health and traumatic brain injuries.

💬 About the guest:

Anthony Bartley is a Chicago-based visual artist whose art is rooted in healing, honesty, and community. Following a severe concussion in high school, Anthony’s life took a dramatic turn—one that ultimately led him to explore art as a means of healing and connection. Today, he uses his platform to raise mental health awareness and to make others feel seen and less alone. 

Last spring, Anthony had his debut solo art exhibition, Words I’ve Never Said. He’s gearing up for a pop-up exhibition at this year’s Miami Art Week, which aims to bring video gaming and community to the fine art world.

🎙️ Episode 4: Kennedy Faulknor

In this episode, the Concussion & CTE Foundation’s Julia Manning is joined by professional soccer player Kennedy Faulknor of the Vancouver Rise. Kennedy opens up about the concussion that sidelined her for over a year and a half—not just from soccer, but from most all activities of her daily life.

Though she had endured multiple concussions throughout her athletic career, it was her most recent brain injury that changed everything. Kennedy faced persistent post-concussion symptoms that lingered for months, taking a toll on her physically, emotionally, and mentally. Beyond the headaches and fatigue, she shares the deeper, often invisible challenges of recovery: the identity crisis, the isolation, and the uncertainty about her future.

As someone who has experienced PCS herself, Julia brings empathy and insight to this vulnerable conversation. Together, they explore what it truly means to heal from an invisible injury—and why it’s so important to talk about it.

💬 About the guest: 

Kennedy Faulknor is a professional soccer player from Toronto, a UCLA graduate, and the youngest center back ever to play for the Canadian women’s national team. After three concussions, she aims to raise awareness and offer guidance to those affected by post-concussion syndrome.

🎙️ Episode 5: Alli Macuga

What happens when your dream career gets derailed in an instant and no one can see your injury? U.S. Moguls Ski Team athlete Alli Macuga shares her powerful journey through post-concussion syndrome (PCS), revealing the hidden struggles behind concussion recovery and how she found her way back. Whether you’re an athlete or just navigating your own healing, Alli’s story is a must-listen reminder that recovery isn’t linear — and you’re not alone. 

💬 About the guest: 

Alli Macuga is a member of the U.S. Moguls Ski Team. Based in Park City, Utah, Alli has been skiing nearly her entire life and is quickly making her mark on the international stage. In 2024, she earned her first World Cup podiums — taking 3rd place in Dual Moguls in Alpe d’Huez, France, and 2nd place in Moguls in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She finished the season ranked 5th in the world.

Despite facing a challenging season due to PCS, Alli continues to train with her sights set on qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

🎙️ Episode 6: CarmenRose Fiallo

Two concussions in one summer led to post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and a new normal for CarmenRose Fiallo. Just before her senior year of college, what was supposed to be an exciting time turned into months of recovery and uncertainty. Living with PCS and chronic migraines meant pressing pause on school and learning how to navigate a world full of triggers.

In this heartfelt conversation, CarmenRose sits down with the Concussion & CTE Foundation’s Julia Manning to share her story — from the tough decision to take a semester off to the small wins and daily challenges of living with an invisible injury. She opens up about how documenting her journey on social media has helped her find community, bring visibility to the often-unseen struggles of life after concussion, and remind others that they’re not alone.

With warmth, honesty, and hope, CarmenRose offers a powerful reminder that healing is rarely linear, and that sharing our stories can make all the difference.

💬 About the guest: 

CarmenRose (she/her) is a queer Latina disability advocate and digital storyteller. Her work has led to features with CBS Mornings, VICE, Healthline, and more.  

CarmenRose is passionate about building community while raising awareness around her experience with Chronic Migraine and Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms. 

Beyond her professional and advocacy work, she finds joy in long walks or bike rides through Central Park with her fiancée, a fresh set of acrylics, and catching the latest film on the big screen. 

🎙️ Episode 7: Corbin Reinhardt

In 2018, professional parkour athlete, free-runner, and Hollywood stuntman Corbin Reinhardt was touring the country with his team when he suffered a traumatic brain injury. The injury left him with lasting effects on his speech and memory, sparking a long and difficult journey through persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS).

In this episode of Invisible Impact, Corbin joins the Concussion & CTE Foundation’s Julia Manning to share his story — from the height of his stunt career to the realities of recovery and resilience after brain injury.

💬 About the guest: 

Corbin is a professional parkour athlete, SAG/AFTRA stunt performer, and free-runner with Tempest Academy based in Los Angeles.

🎙️ Episode 8: Kate Wagner

On a freezing winter day in Chicago, architecture critic and writer Kate Wagner slipped on the ice — a fall that left her with a concussion and a long, difficult recovery. What followed was a struggle with persistent post-concussion symptoms, heightened anxiety and depression, and difficulty sleeping.

In this episode of Invisible Impact, Kate joins the Concussion & CTE Foundation’s Julia Manning to share how an unexpected injury forced her to confront questions of identity and purpose when the work that had always defined her suddenly became impossible.

💬 About the guest: 

Kate is the architecture critic for The Nation Magazine. She is also a writer and purveyor of the blog and social account McMansion Hell. Kate has struggled mightily since suffering a concussion in January of 2025, which she detailed in an essay linked here.

🎙️ Episode 9: Hannah Hall

Hannah Hall grew up with her life mapped out: play soccer, go D1, and keep chasing the sport that defined her. But at age 13, everything changed. What she initially thought was a “mild” concussion spiraled into a decade-long battle with persistent post-concussion symptoms that impacted every part of her life—school, relationships, mental health, and the sport she loved.

In this episode of Invisible Impact, Hannah sits down with our host Julia Manning, who has her own history of concussions, to discuss navigating invisible injuries, adapting when life’s curveballs reroute your dreams, and finding purpose beyond the field.

💬 About the guest: 

Hannah is a former Division I soccer player whose career was cut short by persistent post-concussion symptoms. A lifelong lover of the game, she fulfilled a childhood dream by joining the San Jose State women’s soccer team and tallied her first collegiate assist as a freshman against Cal Poly. After her sophomore year, however, she made the difficult decision to retire.

Today, Hannah is thriving in a different corner of the sports world, working for a professional team and staying connected to high-performance environments while prioritizing her long-term brain health.

🎙️ Episode 10: Kyla Jamieson

In this episode of Invisible Impact, our host Julia Manning sits down with poet, surfer, and model Kyla Jamieson for an honest and deeply personal conversation about life with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Kyla shares her nearly decade-long journey navigating recovery, identity, and resilience after concussion.

Together, they unpack the often-overlooked factors that can shape concussion recovery or stand in the way, including financial barriers, access to healthcare, and the role of social support. Kyla opens up about the hidden realities of living with an invisible disability, shedding light on challenges that are rarely seen but deeply felt. As she poignantly describes it, living with PPCS can feel like your house is on fire while no one notices.

This conversation offers insight into the complexities of concussion recovery and the systemic factors that influence healing.

💬 About the guest: 

Kyla Jamieson is a Ucluelet-based poet, surfer, and model. She is the author of Body Count (Nightwood Editions). Find her online or in the ocean.