When the Game Ends: Brain Trauma, Mental Health, and Life After Sports

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What happens to the brain—and identity—when the game ends?
In this episode of Broken Brains, host Bruce Parkman sits down with Kurt A. David, Emmy Award–winning TV host, producer, and former professional basketball player, to unpack the often-overlooked connection between repetitive brain trauma, mental health, and life after high-performance careers.

Kurt shares his personal journey from elite athletics to life beyond sports, revealing how brain injuries, identity loss, and unaddressed mental health challenges affect both athletes and military veterans. He introduces his Five Rules for Successful Transition—a practical framework for navigating career endings, personal reinvention, and recovery. This conversation is a powerful call for awareness, proactive care, and purpose-driven recovery for anyone facing major life transitions.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts
📲 Be sure to follow, share, like, and subscribe to support brain health awareness and bring real treatments to those who need them most.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Repetitive Brain Trauma

01:58 Kurt A. David's Journey in Sports

10:06 Transitioning from Professional Sports

12:29 The Reality of Athlete Life After Sports

19:05 Mental Health and Transition Challenges

19:41 Transitioning from Sports to Counseling

20:33 The Birth of a Book and TV Show

21:54 Inspiring Stories of Resilience

24:10 The Impact of CTE Awareness

26:46 The Emotional Toll of Transition

29:56 Five Rules for Successful Transition

37:30 The Importance of Recovery and Support

Connect with Kurt today.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-david/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurtadavidspeaks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromglorydaystv/

Produced by Security Halt Media