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The Beautiful Brain

By: Hana Walker-Brown
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  • Summary

  • This is a story about the beautiful game - football. The highs, the lows, historic match days and foul play. It's a celebration of a beloved player, a history maker, and his tragic ending at the final whistle. It's a story about science and discovery, about the people on the frontline of life changing research.

    But above all it's a story about family, and about consequence.

    All of this is wrapped up in three little letters, C.T.E.

    A four part investigative documentary from multi-award winning producer Hana Walker-Brown (Audio Production Awards Best Documentary [Winner, 2017, 2016], Prix Europa [Nominee, 2018, 2017, 2015], Åke Blomström Prize [Winner, 2015] Hearsay International Audio Arts Award [Nominee, 2014] and Charles Parker Prize Gold Award [Winner, 2013]) The Beautiful Brain looks at the devastating effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) - a degenerative brain disease found in people who've suffered severe or repeated blows to the head.

    Beginning with the story of FA Cup winner Jeff Astle, the podcast expands outwards looking at the widows, daughters and families who are left fighting for answers following the death of their loved ones. As the series progresses Hana's investigation leads her from Britain's football pitches to support groups for victims of domestic violence and beyond, sparking a vital discussion about accountability and the urgent need for further scientific studies into CTE.

    This is an Audible Original Podcast. Free for members. You can download all 4 episodes to your Library now.
    ©2019 Audible, Ltd. (P)2019 Audible, Ltd.
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Brain & Nervous System
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Episodes
  • Ep. 1: A Glass Half Full

    Ep. 1: A Glass Half Full
    Apr 17 2019

    Jeff Astle was a player that made history. But aside from the glorious chapters of his life on the pitch, away from the floodlights, Jeff’s story is a tragic testament to the effects of CTE.

    How it was discovered and the events that followed are remarkable. It’s a story that sent tremors throughout the Football Association, tremors that erupted across the globe and continue to rock both the world and the Astle Family.
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    51 mins
    Free with 30-day trial
  • Ep. 2: An Inconvenient Truth

    Ep. 2: An Inconvenient Truth
    Apr 17 2019

    Host Hana Walker-Brown meets Dr Bennett Omalu. A man so integral to the story of CTE, that they made a movie about him with Will Smith in the starring role.

    Doctor Omalu was the driving force behind the discovery of CTE amongst American NFL players including Pittsburgh Steeler, Mike Webster. Doctor Omalu believed this discovery would change everything; a truth that could save thousands of lives the world over and change sport forever, but one that wouldn’t be well received by the sporting bodies he was up against. Something the Astle family would also soon find out.
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    1 hr and 24 mins
    Free with 30-day trial
  • Ep. 3: The Punch-Drunk Wife

    Ep. 3: The Punch-Drunk Wife
    Apr 17 2019

    In comparison to men, the research on female brain injury is alarmingly low. The common term associated with woman and concussion is TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury – defined as “an alteration in brain function or other evidence of brain pathology caused by an external force.“

    An external force like a football, or a boxing glove, or a fist. In this episode, Hana explores the story of one of the first cases of CTE ever reported in a woman.

    Through her investigation, Hana meets the doctors and scientists dedicating their lives to researching female traumatic brain injury, and hears devastating personal testimony from survivors of intimate partner violence.
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    51 mins
    Free with 30-day trial

What listeners say about The Beautiful Brain

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Profile Image for Shona

Insightful and beautifully told

An amazingly told story of the link between brain injury and dementia. Haunting and sad but Well worth the listen..

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

valid, groundbreaking takes guts

i found this book compelling and challenging. we are the sum total of our brain

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Profile Image for warmfrog

brilliant work

excellent podcast highlighting the human cost of CTE. should be mandatory listening for every coach of high impact sport.

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Profile Image for the Chandlers

fascinating, heart breaking, eye opening!

amazing story and intellectually satisfying as well. highly recommend for medics and sports fans (Or their families)

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Profile Image for Diane Johnson

intriguing

Enjoyed it very much. Loved the narration. My only criticism is it is a bit repetitive.

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Profile Image for Emma Peel

Found this story so compelling I need to know more

It was equal in empathy and research. the interviews were balanced between both to give multiple aspects to frame the topic of CTE. well written, constructed and read. loved it

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Profile Image for Clayts

A brilliant listening Documentary.

Every human being should listen and heed this documentary.
our children's lives depend on
it.

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

A brilliant podcast

Fascinating Podacast.
The presentation is excellent, well researched and so interesting. Well worth listening to.

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Profile Image for Pranamita

Fanatastic

Loved it. This book was very informative and interesting at the same time. After finishing this I got interested in finding out and resarching more about CTE and Jeoff Astler. Also watched the movie Concussion after it. Great effort everyone.

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Intense story

Intense. I had no idea about this. What's even worse was the kick back from people who wanted the research to be rescinded. Terrible.

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