Transform Your Life and Build Lasting Strength – Exclusive Interview with DJ Jesse Hudson
Updated: Mar 13
DJ Jesse Hudson is a cognitive health advocate, media creator, and founder of CTEFight.com. Living with the long-term effects of brain injury, he uses storytelling and lived experience to raise global awareness around cognitive health and recovery. Through The Rabbit Hole, he explores how AI, media, and community can support resilience, continuity, and human dignity. His work bridges advocacy, innovation, and culture to make complex brain health conversations accessible and real.
DJ Jesse Hudson, AI-Driven Cognitive Health Advocate
Who is DJ Jesse Hudson?
DJ Jesse Hudson is a DJ, media creator, and brain-health advocate who uses music, storytelling, and technology to raise awareness about neurological injury. Known on stage as DjR WarDrums, Jesse built a global presence in electronic music and live-streaming communities while also documenting his own journey living with the long-term effects of head injuries. Through his media platform therabbithole.ca, Jesse explores the intersection of creativity, technology, and neurological recovery. His work translates complex medical realities into conversations people can understand. At the center of that effort is CTEFight.com, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the broader consequences of repeated head trauma.
What inspired you to start CTE Fight?
CTE Fight grew directly from lived experience. After dealing with the long-term effects of head injuries, Jesse began researching what might actually be happening neurologically. That research led him to the reality of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE cannot currently be definitively diagnosed until after death through brain tissue examination. There is no cure and no direct treatment for the disease itself. That reality leaves many people living with symptoms that resemble CTE while never receiving a definitive diagnosis. CTEFight.com was created to help bring awareness to that gap — supporting research, increasing public understanding, and helping people facing neurological challenges know they are not alone.
What common misconceptions about CTE do you encounter?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that CTE only affects professional athletes. While professional sports helped bring attention to the issue, repeated head trauma can occur in many environments, such as sports, accidents, military service, workplace injuries, and everyday impacts over time. Another misconception is that we fully understand the condition today. The reality is that research is still evolving, and many questions remain about how the disease progresses and how earlier diagnosis might eventually become possible. Education and storytelling are powerful tools for addressing these misconceptions. When people hear real experiences alongside scientific information, the issue becomes easier to understand.
What results or impacts have you seen from your work?
One of the most meaningful areas of work has been exploring a concept called Backup Intelligence² (BI²). BI² looks at how intelligent technology, particularly AI systems, can support people living with neurological challenges by assisting with organization, recall, communication, and decision-making. Brain injuries often affect memory, concentration, emotional regulation, and information processing. Backup Intelligence² explores how technology can help fill those gaps. The goal is not to replace human thinking but to support it, helping people maintain independence and continue contributing creatively and professionally.
What should someone do if they suspect a head injury?
The first step is to take head injuries seriously and seek medical evaluation. For decades, people were told to “walk it off.” That mindset is no longer acceptable. A head injury cannot be walked off. Symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, mood changes, or sensitivity to light and sound should be treated as warning signals that the brain needs care and recovery time. Documenting symptoms over time can also help healthcare professionals better understand what is happening. Equally important is building a support system. Brain injuries affect families and communities as well as individuals, and having people around who understand the situation can make a significant difference.
What future goals excite you most for CTE Fight?
A major focus for CTEFight.com is supporting organizations leading research into brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Institutions such as Brain Canada and Boston University’s UNITE Brain Bank are conducting critical research that will help us better understand the disease and eventually improve diagnosis and treatment. Prevention is equally important. Initiatives such as PlaySafe promote better education and access to protective equipment so children and communities can better protect developing brains. Many children grow up playing in environments where surfaces are hard and protective equipment may not always be accessible. Making helmets and protective gear more affordable and available can help reduce risk and protect the next generation.
Support the mission
Readers who would like to support awareness and research efforts connected to CTEFight.com can learn more through the fundraiser initiatives below.
The fundraiser will culminate in a 24-hour livestream event on March 29th, bringing DJs, artists, and supporters from around the world together to raise awareness about brain injuries and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Every conversation, every share, and every contribution helps move awareness forward.
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