Invisible Impact E8: Redefining Purpose Through PCS with Kate Wagner @concussionandcte

Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 22 hours ago

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 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: ⁠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 & CTE Foundation offers free resources and support through our 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

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$20 Questions on Concussion with Dr. Robert Cantu Concussion Legacy Foundation co-founder and medical director Dr. Robert Cantu, answers dozens of questions on concussions and Post-Concussion Syndrome. Viewers learned effective coping strategies and helpful tips on managing symptoms while social distancing. Dr. Robert Cantu is Medical Director and Director of Clinical Research at the Cantu Concussion Center at Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA. 0:20 — Can you improve your PCS symptoms even 5 years after injury? 2:00 — For long-term PCS patients, is it normal to feel like a different person? 2:50 — What should my expectation be for returning back to old fitness routines? 4:12 — How often does pituitary damage get overlooked and misdiagnosed as a mental health condition and at what point should you have neuroendocrine testing? 5:40 — For neuroendocrine testing, what kind of doctor should you see? 7:30 — Jumping/running might not be a good exercises for PCS recovery, what about weight lifting? 8:32 — How can you lower the frequency of headaches even while increasing work-related activities? 9:32 — As someone in my early 50’s just experiencing my first concussion, will my recovery time be longer than someone younger getting their first concussion? 10:14 — Can you explain what you recommend to parents of athletes that have sustained a concussion in a contact sport where they will be likely to receive another concussion. Can you explain in terms of the risks and benefits to both the athletes and the parents? 12:05 — What is the best way to stimulate neuroplasticity? 13:01 — My son died by suicide shortly after his concussion. What is the connection there? Is it possible that the hit to his head made him lose his memory and he didn’t know what he was doing? 14:25 — Can you develop ADHD after a concussion and does having it before a concussion delay your recovery? 16:08 — What has a bigger impact on behavioural, emotional, suicidality type symptoms? CTE, PCS, or concussion? 17:13 — What are some interventions for chronic sleep disturbances due to PCS? 18:37 — How are nightmares connected to brain injuries? Tips to stop them? 20:17 — Do you see many patients that suffer from dysautonomia after a concussion? 20:49 — How does POTS work into those autonomic symptoms? 22:03 — My daughter faints everyday but only after reading/doing math problems. Any advice on what I should do for her or where to look? 23:20 — What do you recommend to those struggling with double vision, blurry vision, or someone seeing shadows? 24:28 — Any advice for building up reading tolerance? 25:28 — What are the recommended settings for cell-phone screens to prevent the triggering of a migraine? 25:51 — What are some strategies for creating a new career path if skill sets and interests change after experiencing PCS? 27:30 — How do you know when to push yourself? 28:40 — Would you recommend biofeedback to any patients? 29:25 — Can you comment on the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Is that something that you would prescribe? 31:13 — We hear a lot about the study of CTE, but what about the study and treatment of PCS? Any promising treatments on the horizon for PCS? 32:00 — Diet tips 32:35 — Any tips for prioritizing therapies? How do you maximize the benefit of each therapy while still pacing yourself? 34:06 — Do you have any thoughts as to how patients can tease out whether the symptoms they are feeling are due to this new trauma or due to PCS? Do you have any self-care suggestions to help patients navigate this new trauma? 35:25 — Do you think pediatricians and primary care physicians are being advised to do telehealth concussion assessment and diagnosis? 36:33 — Can you give a short answer on the differences between PCS and CTE but also elaborate on the scenario where someone with a single concussion has new symptoms a couple years after that injury? 38:07 — What is the best way to image the brain for damage? 39:17 — What kind of things can be done to improve memory problems with PCS? 40:20 — Is there any concern that someone would not get back their long-term memory after a concussion? 41:15 — Do concussions, prime someone for existing familial dementias? 42:12 — What role does inflammation play in concussion? 43:10 — Do you have any advice for coping with sporadic crying in the business world? 43:58 — I’ve had a fractured skull and six concussions, lately experiencing short-term memory issues and I’m 70 years old. Is this expected and does it get worse? 45:07 — I now have problems with speech and headaches. Can that be from a concussion that was many years ago? 45:33 — What is your professional opinion regarding brain waves analysis for concussion or PTSD? 46:28 — Any thoughts on supplements to improve cognitive energy? 47:42 — How often is it okay to have caffeine and alcohol with PCS? 49:02 — Why is baseline testing not the standard anymore? 50:25 — What is your favourite concussion related book? 51:00 — General message of hope to anyone experiencing PCS?$