The Australian’s world-famous podcast The Teacher’s Pet was re-released over the weekend following the conviction of Chris Dawson, and today the publication has announced its new six-part podcast series Head Noise.
The investigative podcast follows former rugby league legend James Graham through an exploration of his brain health and the epidemic of concussions in the NRL. The Australian’s Jessica Halloran co-hosts the podcast, and the pair investigate concussion effects on grassroots junior to elite players to discover what more can be done to reduce or even reverse the consequences of concussions on the field.
The former Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Dragons star said: “After almost two decades, over 400 games, I’ve calculated I’ve been through 18,000 collisions and more than 100 concussions. That puts me right at the centre of the biggest issue in sport: head trauma and its long-term consequences.
“I’ve worked with The Australian on this investigation – Head Noise – because I don’t want sympathy or excuses and I want to make a difference. This investigation is not about putting down our game. But I want to try and grasp the effects and the unintended consequences of the way I played.”
Profiles of NRL household names are also analysed on the podcast, including Wally Lewis, Matty Johns and Boyd Cordner. The podcast also looks into the AFL and AFLW’s issue of on-filed concussion, looking at the careers of Shaun Smith and Kristen McLeod and how head knocks have affected these players across codes.
Halloran, a Walkley-award-winning journalist said: “This is much more than a podcast series for James and me – he has been on a real journey during the whole process and has shown incredible compassion, insight and curiosity to lift the lid on a topic that can make some within sporting codes feel uncomfortable.”
Head Noise is available through The Australian’s app or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribers of The Australian will get early access to each episode.