“There can’t be many people with experience of significant brain injury, from both sides of the bed.”
Back from the brink. Podcast Special with The Medical Journal of Australia

Anaesthetist Dr Bruce Powell was competing in a charity bike ride when he slammed into a telegraph pole at 65km/h, almost killing him and ending his clinical career. He talks about medicine, living with a brain injury and sharing what he’s learned about being a better doctor.
Special 1 – My Friend Pierre

Pierre and I shared a room for a few weeks. His is the only face that I remember from that difficult time in hospital after the crash. He was a wonderful man and this is a tribute to him.
Rest In Peace.
Special 2 – Bruce and Janco Chat About Their Experiences Living with ADHD.

01:08 – Episode Start
01:48 – Education and Studies
02:50 – Studying Music and a Bachelor of Audio
05:36 – ADHD and Labeling
09:20 – Writing music for ADHD people
11:14 – Being a Junior Doctor
13:22 – ADHD and Social Anxiety
19:57 – Music and the Creative Process
24:59 – Is ADHD a superpower
32:01 – What does school teach you?
39:46 – Being a Doctor and Societies Views
59:21 – Choice, Having options is much more difficult
01:04:02 – Building strong foundations
Special 3 – Bruce and Janco Return
One more chat before Janco returns to his proper career, working in “sustainability”, whatever that means.

1:05 Med Student mentoring. Brain Melt.
3:15 Golf
5:49 Beards at school
7:45 ADHD labels
10:40 Brain Injury Unit
14:10 Qantas pyjamas
15:30 Transition from patient to independent person again
17:00 Naked podcasting and nudism
27:15 Escape Plan
28:10 Base jumping and nudity
28:50 Cognitive collapse and Ritalin.
34:45 Hard to be in medicine if you don’t fit in
36:30 ADD vs ADHD
37:45 MAFFS? Isn’t that married at first sight?
38:50 Let Janco talk more
Special 4 – Chatting about Organ Donation

Bruce reflects on the many emotional aspects of organ donation, recreated in an emotional story of tragic loss and joyous rebirth.