The Second Beginning: Life After Traumatic Brain Injury with Erik JohnsonThe Second Beginning: Life After Traumatic Brain Injury with Erik Johnson
The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast
Stanley Cup champion Erik Johnson talks with Dr Daniel Amen about his severe concussion, the impact of repeated head trauma, and the brain scan-guided rehab that helped him recover. The discussion looks at TBI, CTE fears, and practical steps anyone can take to start improving their brain health.
55:30•10 Aug 2026
From Crushed on the Ice to Second Chances: Erik Johnson on Brain Injury and Recovery
Episode Overview
- Repeated concussions, sub-concussive blows, and general anaesthesia can accumulate, leaving a brain that "just looked hurt" even when standard scans look normal.
- SPECT imaging can show blood flow and activity changes from TBI and provide a clear before-and-after picture of brain healing.
- Structured rehab – hyperbaric oxygen, neurofeedback, and targeted supplements – can significantly improve symptoms such as headaches, brain fog, and tinnitus.
- A brain injury should be treated with the same seriousness and consistent therapy as any other sports injury, rather than hoping it improves on its own.
- Daily habits around diet, substances, and self-care either strengthen brain reserve or push it closer to long-term problems like depression and possible CTE.
“You can’t just keep punching the wall every day and expect to get better. There’s no difference with a head injury.”
He talks through growing up with hockey as “religion” in Minnesota, a long NHL career, and what it felt like when a brutal hit in 2021 left him with ringing ears, brain fog, and the sense that something was deeply wrong: “Right away I knew I was not in good shape… sound went out, eyes went out, stars.” Dr Amen explains why routine scans can miss the damage and walks Erik through his SPECT results, which he describes as looking like a “beat up boxer”.
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober when brain health, pain, and high-pressure careers collide? This conversation between Dr Daniel Amen and Stanley Cup champion Erik Johnson looks straight at the harsh reality of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in elite sport, while also pointing firmly towards hope. Hockey fans, athletes, and anyone dealing with concussions or cognitive fog will recognise parts of Erik’s story.
Together they unpack how repeated concussions, countless “bell rung” hits, and several general anaesthetics from surgeries all stacked up against Erik’s brain. Rather than accept a downhill slide, Erik chooses active rehab: hyperbaric oxygen sessions, neurofeedback, targeted supplements, and lifestyle changes. He compares ignoring a brain injury to “punching the wall every day and expecting to get better”, and stresses that a brain injury deserves the same structured rehab as a torn knee.
The chat also touches on alcohol culture in hockey – beers on the bus, celebrations after big wins – and how Erik now balances enjoying “a cocktail and beer and wine every once in a while” with a stronger commitment to brain health.
Anyone worrying about CTE or long-term damage is likely to come away with a mix of realism and relief: yes, repeated blows to the head are serious, but as Dr Amen puts it, every day “you are making your brain better or you are making it worse.” What small choice could you make today to shift that balance?
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