{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The HeadRush Podcast with Paul Frase","title":"Roy Heaney: The Cost of Playing Through | Brain Health, Resilience & Hope — Part 1","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3165,"description":"At 13, Roy Heaney was knocked unconscious—and sent back into the game. Decades later, he’s speaking up about the head injuries athletes were taught to shrug off.\nWhat happens when “get up and carry on” becomes the rule—even after a head injury?\nFollow The HeadRush Podcast for honest conversations about brain health, resilience, and hope. Share this episode with a parent, coach, athlete, or someone living with brain injury.\nIn Part 1, former professional footballer and rugby league player Roy Heaney joins former NFL player Paul Frase to share his journey through Liverpool’s youth system, a devastating leg break, and his determination to rebuild his career with Bolton Wanderers.\nBehind that determination was a culture of playing through injuries. Roy recalls being knocked unconscious at 13, returning to play after serious head injuries, and the pressure athletes face to keep their place.\nRoy and Paul discuss repeated head impacts, CTE awareness, the UK player litigation Roy describes, and why education must reach parents, teachers, and coaches at the grassroots level. Roy also shares how family support and changes to his daily habits have helped him feel better and keep making memories.\nAn honest conversation about protecting the next generation—and helping those already affected cope and find hope.\nTHANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:\n• Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation — https://stopcte.org\n• Millennium Health Centers — https://tbihelpnow.org\n• Millennium Health Store — https://millenniumhealthstore.com\n• Paradise Behavioral Health — Brain Well Program: https://paradisebehavioral.com/brainwell/\n• MC Wellness — Cristal Clark, MA, LPC-S\n• Ambio Life Sciences — https://ambio.life\n• Vielight, Inc. — A sponsor of The HeadRush Podcast. Visit https://www.vielight.com and use our discount code HEADRUSHVL.\nSupport the HeadRush Foundation’s mission by following and sharing our work to expand brain injury education, awareness, and hope.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/NjrmzZaTagXj-R-bVK3-S68yVZIoWQ_Fi-H6bjhL9d0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9jYWVm/OGY1OWVhZjA2MTNk/Yzg1ZWFjMmRjMWUy/ZWZjNC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}