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-longjourney 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.

Connect with Kyla:

• Instagram: @kyla__jamieson

📞 Need support after a concussion?

If you or a loved one is struggling after a concussion or living with post-concussion syndrome, you're not alone. The Concussion & CTE Foundation offers free resources and support through the Concussion & CTE Foundation HelpLine.

Visit ConcussionAndCTE.org/HelpLine to connect with a dedicated team member who can guide you to resources, medical referrals, and peer support tailored to your needs.

💬 Connect with us

• Instagram: @concussionandcte

• Website: ConcussionAndCTE.org

⭐ Enjoyed the episode?

If this conversation resonated with you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might benefit. Your support helps us reach more people navigating life after brain injury.

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.

Connect with Hannah:

• Instagram: hannah_halll

📞 Need support after a concussion?

If you or a loved one is struggling after a concussion or living with post-concussion syndrome, you're not alone. The Concussion Legacy Foundation offers free resources and support through the CLF HelpLine.

Visit CLFHelpLine.org to connect with a dedicated team member who can guide you to resources, medical referrals, and peer support tailored to your needs.

💬 Connect with us

• Instagram: @concussionfoundation

• Website: ConcussionFoundation.org

⭐ Enjoyed the episode?

If this conversation resonated with you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might benefit. Your support helps us reach more people navigating life after brain injury.

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 CLF’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 Wagner 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 which is linked below.

Read Kate’s essay here: https://www.late-review.com/p/the-hairshirt-doldrums

Connect with Kate:

• Instagram: @KateGWagner & @McMansionHell

📞 Need support after a concussion?

If you or a loved one is struggling after a concussion or living with post-concussion syndrome, you're not alone. The Concussion Legacy Foundation offers free resources and support through the CLF HelpLine.

Visit CLFHelpLine.org to connect with a dedicated team member who can guide you to resources, medical referrals, and peer support tailored to your needs.

💬 Connect with us

• Instagram: @concussionfoundation

• Website: ConcussionFoundation.org

⭐ Enjoyed the episode?

If this conversation resonated with you, please consider leaving a review and sharing it with someone who might benefit. Your support helps us reach more people navigating life after brain injury.