In this episode, Eli Hallak sits down with Tracie Wagman, CEO of ColdVentures LLC, to discuss the growing need for better education on heat illness, heat stroke, prevention, and emergency response. Tracie shares the personal story that led to the creation of ColdVest and explains how it serves as another critical tool when cold water immersion is unavailable, impractical, or too far away. Together, they discuss the importance of fast action, why heat emergencies must be treated with the same seriousness as concussions, AED access, and other life-saving protocols, and the role athletic trainers, industrial settings, and community education play in preventing avoidable heat-related deaths.

ColdVest®

This week, Eli Hallak and Victoria Chavez discuss Volunteerism, and Voluntoldism with Brianna Millard and Christina Scherr. These seasoned Athletic Trainers have a candid examination of how donating your time to others can strengthen your relationships with your community, and yourself.

Frosted Faces Foundation

This episode was originally released on 05/27/24

In this episode, Eli Hallak sits down with Jasmine Haas, founder of BrainWaves Performance and Director of Mental Performance for Lakeside Aquatic Club, to discuss the growing role of mental performance in athletics. Jasmine shares her journey working with swimmers, divers, and military populations, and emphasizes the importance of proper certification to remain present on deck and embedded with athletes. The conversation highlights the bravery of young athletes in being vulnerable about their mental wellness, the value of integrating mental performance training into youth sports, and the process of building structured programs for student athletes. They also address the dangers of assumptions and the responsibility coaches have to fully understand the demands they place on their athletes.

BrainWaves Performance

Lakeside Aquatic Club

In this episode, Eli Hallak sits down with Erick Chen to discuss the global opportunities within athletic training and the path it takes to reach them. Eric reflects on his professional journey from the junior college setting to Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, emphasizing the importance of being willing to work where opportunities exist and mastering the fundamentals along the way. They explore his role in helping build clinical infrastructure in China, the level of detail required in multinational care environments, and how organizations like the Asia-Pacific Athletic Trainers’ Society are expanding the profession beyond borders.

In this episode, Eli Hallak and cohost Joel Doerning sit down with Dr. Douglas Kalman to break down the role of nutrition in both health and performance. They discuss how biases and outside influences can shape an athlete’s understanding of nutrition, and why it’s important to view food and hydration as fuel based on the demands of different sports and positions. The conversation also highlights the difference between eating for general health and eating for performance, while emphasizing the need to recognize misinformation and rely on evidence-based practices.

International Society of Sports Nutrition

National Library of Medicine: ISSN PubMed

In this episode, Eli Hallak and cohost Tim Moscicki sit down with Pat Hassell, Athletic Training Manager for Atrium Health, and CJ Walker, Athletic Trainer Coordinator for Atrium Health and Athletic Trainer for 23XI Racing. Together, they discuss how Atrium Health and 23XI Racing are helping move NASCAR into the future through a more comprehensive approach to medical care. The conversation highlights the day to day of supporting drivers and team members, examining the growing role of technology in treatment and tracking data trends to improve outcomes. At the center of it all is the effort to build a sustainable model of care in motorsports and open the door for the next generation of Athletic Trainers in motorsports.

In this episode, recorded live at the CATA Annual Symposium in Anaheim, California, Eli Hallak speaks with Matt Quijano about advocacy and leadership within the athletic training profession. Together, they review recent legislative accomplishments supported by the California Athletic Trainers’ Association and discuss the importance of working within existing systems to create meaningful change rather than trying to force it from the outside. Their conversation highlights the responsibility professionals have to advocate for their field, the need to understand the political landscape and the stakeholders who can influence progress, and why answering the call to support the profession matters. Matt also emphasizes the importance of knowing CATA’s history and provides an overview of the association’s active committees and the roles they play in advancing the profession.

In this episode, Eli Hallak sits down with Jay Hammes, President of Safe Sport Zone LLC and a longtime leader in high school athletics. Drawing from decades of experience as a player, coach, teacher, and athletic administrator, Jay shares his perspective on creating safer environments at interscholastic sporting events. Together, they discuss strategies for deescalating conflicts at high school contests, the importance of preparedness and proper training for event personnel, and how positive reinforcement can support the volunteers and staff who help make these events possible.