Two concussions. Alcohol, heroin, and crystal meth. Homeless.

Yesterday I interviewed my friend, Jeff Gould. I’ve known him professionally for a couple of years; I produce his podcast. Though I knew a bit of his story, I had never heard the full tale, the arc. And it was stunning.Jeff had a bike accident as a pre-teen and because this was before the time when every child wears a helmet, Jeff suffered a concussion. He knew something didn’t feel right but he shook it off. A few years later while staying at a friend’s house, a door — taken off its hinges — was knocked loose and fell into Jeff’s head. It broke his jaw. It also gave him another concussion. That’s two.And in the midst of all of this, Jeff learned that alcohol could numb those bad feelings he had as a teen — and who hasn’t struggled with those — as well as the weirdness he was feeling after the concussions.Spin the tape forward a few years and this combination of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), addiction, and poor life choices would drive Jeff out of his home to life on the streets living under a bridge.A little over twenty years later Jeff is married, owns a home, and works as a coach providing help for people suffering from TBIs and addiction. Coming soon, hear Jeff’s story of “a life concussed.”Remarkable! (A Podcast) is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markgoode.substack.com