Displaying episodes by topic: sports

Can cannabinoids change the future of concussion care in contact sports? Kirk follows up with Patrick Neary, PhD, from the University of Regina, to see how his NFL-funded research into CBD, concussions, pain management, and athlete health is going now that the study has moved from planning to execution. Recorded on 4/20, let's dive in: can CBD help reduce concussion risk, support brain recovery, and offer athletes an alternative to opioids? Dr. Neary explains the first phase of his research: a CBD dose-escalation safety study in athletes, including very high daily doses, brain blood-flow testing, cardiovascular monitoring, pharmacokinetics, biomarkers, and side-effect tracking. The episode also previews two related studies: a double-blind placebo-controlled concussion study and an upcoming pain study comparing THC, CBD, full-spectrum cannabinoids, and placebo. Listen now to learn how a multidisciplinary Canadian research team is studying cannabis, neuroprotection, inflammation, chronic pain, and the future of sports medicine.

Tarris Baptiste was athletically gifted. Tarris was driven. Tarris was on the brink of breaking into the National Football League. And then, it didn’t happen. Ten thousand hours plus spent on becoming an elite football player didn’t matter anymore. Now what? Tarris had a shadow pursuit that paralleled his football career. Sometimes it helped him succeed. Sometimes it got in the way. But now, he shifted his considerable focus to learn more about cannabis. He needed to know the light and the dark of this plant. Tarris sought out experts. He merged their insights with his own lived experience. That was the genesis of his book, Don’t Let it Smoke You. Listen to Tarris talk about how cannabis got in his way, how he overcame his misuse of cannabis, but how he didn’t abandon the plant. Tarris found a way to balance his cannabis use with living a productive life. And now he wants to share that with you.

You've said the word concussion. You might even have had one. But do you really understand them? Did you know a concussion is a minor traumatic brain injury? Dr. Patrick Neary and his team got a grant from the NFL to study if cannabis can help prevent or treat concussions! Dr. Neary explains, you don't have to actually bang your head to get a concussion. We've often said you don't have to like cannabis to enjoy this podcast. But, if you listen to this episode while rhythmically shaking your mullet forwards and back, we think you'll elevate your knowledge about both.

Ross Rebagliati, Michael Phelps, and Sha'Carri Richardson. Different athletes, different sports, and different eras. Tremendous athletic ability and years of arduous training aren't all they have in common. Their sporting careers have all been touched by cannabis. Dr. Mark Ware and his colleagues examined cannabis and elite athletes. What they found was captivating and thought provoking. Join Kirk and Trevor in the discussion.

Do you know any professional athletes using Cannabis? It is difficult finding one willing to talk about it on the record. Phil Gaimon, once within the top fifty world’s best professional road racing cyclists, graciously chats with Kirk on how he uses Cannabis. While cycling as a professional, Phil authored books and pleased his sponsors enough allowing him to start the Worst Retirement Ever in 2016. Listen to why he preferred cannabis over alcohol while racing pro and how, after crashing his bike challenging for the Olympic track team, cannabis helped him sleep better. This episode explores cannabis and sports through the experience of an elite cyclist.