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

Send us Fan MailWhat 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. Broken Brains with Bruce Parkman is sponsored by The Mac Parkman FoundationSupport The Mac Parkman Foundation by donating today!https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CR24MY2GDUCZL CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW! https://www.mpfact.com/headsmart-app/ Chapters00:00 Introduction to Repetitive Brain Trauma01:58 Kurt A. David's Journey in Sports10:06 Transitioning from Professional Sports12:29 The Reality of Athlete Life After Sports19:05 Mental Health and Transition Challenges19:41 Transitioning from Sports to Counseling20:33 The Birth of a Book and TV Show21:54 Inspiring Stories of Resilience24:10 The Impact of CTE Awareness26:46 The Emotional Toll of Transition29:56 Five Rules for Successful Transition37:30 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