The Pain Factor
A Top 10% Globally Ranked Podcast by PodSEO.
What is pain? Where does it come from? Is there anything we can do to control it, overcome it, even leverage it?
This podcast is a comprehensive exploration of chronic pain management alongside physical, emotional and mental pain. Through shared data, clinical insight, and pain science, we aim to understand this complex reality.
We want to be clear: this is not a self-help podcast. It is about fostering accountability while maintaining a human approach to sensitive issues. Religion, mysticism and positive thinking are things we purposefully, and adamantly, distance ourselves from.
Before facing the challenge, we get to know it better. This is what this podcast is about.
Join us on this essential quest for understanding, empowerment, and ultimate freedom.
Episodes
35 episodes
PF# 34: Brandon Day - Rejecting "Normal" Chronic Pain Through Pain Science
In this episode, Brandon Day shares his journey from professional athlete to pain recovery expert, exploring the foundations of pain science and how understanding the brain unlocks new pathways to healing. Discover practical tools for chronic p...
PF# 33: Alan Bodnar - Pain Science and the Self-Driving Brain
In this episode, neurophilosopher Alan Bodnar breaks down the mechanism of automatic responses. Discover practical strategies for understanding chronic pain, and learn how to train your self-driving system to process deep emotional and mental p...
PF# 32: Dr. Shang Olsen - Ending Emotional and Mental Pain with Metacognitive Therapy
How does a hyper-focused mind inadvertently lock itself into chronic overthinking? In this episode of The Pain Factor, we strip away the superficial fluff of standard self-help to examine the mechanical neurobiology of psychological suffering w...
TPF# 31: Discomfort vs Pain: The Cognitive Cost of Resilience
In this episode of The Pain Factor, we explore the exact boundary between discomfort vs pain, emphasizing how embracing physical and emotional discomfort drives cognitive growth. We break down the psychological comfort trap, the true cost of re...
TPF #30: The Pain Science of Hope: The Psychology of a Trap
Hope is not a strategy; it is an anesthetic. This episode challenges the cultural obsession with positive thinking. We examine how hope actively prevents action, locks you into cycles of suffering, and acts as a psychological trap. If you want ...
TPF #29: Dr. Jeffrey Bone - The uninvited guest: Understanding chronic pain
Dr. Jeff Bone holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kenyon College, as well as a doctoral and master's degrees in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. He has authored two collections of ...
TPF #28: The Right Forest: How to Choose Correctly to Avoid Emotional Pain
Most of us are rushing through life, desperately trying to cross hurdles without first understanding which "forest" we actually need to cross. What if the biggest challenge isn’t the obstacle itself but the clarity — or confusion — about whethe...
TPF #27: Adriene Caldwell - From Trauma to Triumph: Healing from Childhood Abuse
Adriene Caldwell is the Author of “Unbroken: Life outside the lines”, a story of destruction and discovery - of darkness given free rein and an innate light that refuses to dim.In this compelling interview, Adrian shares her inspiring jo...
TPF #26: Nancy Deyo - From perfectionism to pain to true freedom
Nancy Deyo is a former Silicon Valley CEO, author and speaker, and a Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute Fellow. Her forthcoming memoir, Perilous Ascent, chronicles a fifteen-year journey through misdiagnosis, chronic pain, opioid dependen...
TPF #25: Jeff Armine - Chronic illness: Overwhelmed, not broken
Dr. Jess Armine is a functional medicine practitioner with nearly 50 years of clinical experience. He specializes in Long COVID, post-viral syndromes, and complex chronic illness. His work focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysregulat...
TPF #24: Brian Desroches - Why Your Brain Protects You from Change
Brian Desroches, PhD, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, neuroscientist, and author of Living a Triggered Free Life.In this eye-opening episode, Brian DesRoches reveals how your brain’s survival bias keeps you stuck in...
TPF #23: Linda Feig Knipe - Therapy, or why asking for help works
Linda Feig Knipe has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the State University of UNY at Potsdam, and a Master's Degree and Certificate of Advanced Study in Counselor Education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She's also the a...
TPF #22: Asher Lester - Pain and growth
Asher Lester is a Certified 3rd Degree Krav Maga black belt instructor, with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis. He is also a breathing/meditation coach with 10 certificati...
TPF #21: Leigh Brandon - Pain: our greatest gift?
Leigh Brandon is a CHEK (Corrective, Holistic, Exercise, and Kinesiology) Practitioner and Faculty Instructor, Functional Medicine Practitioner, Manual Therapist, Emotion Code Practitioner and the author and host of "Beyond the Pain" Podcast. H...
TPF #20: Gwen Bernardo - The emotional weight of pain
Gwen Bernardo is a myofascial release therapist specializing in fascial health and chronic pain reliefIn this episode of The Pain Factor, Gwen Bernardo shares her personal journey through chronic pain and the transformative power of myof...
TPF #19: Lynn Banis - You are not broken: Navigating grief
Dr. Lynn Banis is a Doctor of Philosophy, with a PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology. She is also a Grief and Resilience Mentor, an Expert Transformational Coach, international best-selling author, and the founder and owner of Widows Ri...
TPF #18: Garret Wood - Pain beyond physical symptoms
Garrett Wood is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Executive Functioning Specialist, Founder of Gnosis Therapy and developer of the A³ Framework —Assess, Accommodate, Align— which maps capacity across...
TPF #17: Megha Parekh - Surviving trauma and transforming pain into strength
Megha Parekh is the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and she has been with the Jaguars since 2013.In this conversation, Megha shares her journey of trauma recovery, emphasizing the importance ...
TPF #16: Lisa Franz - A Life to Love
In this conversation, Lisa Franz, a nutrition coach and trainer, discusses the multifaceted nature of pain and its impact on life quality, particularly in relation to nutrition and weight loss. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the...
TPF #15: Judy Gaman - Pain, balance and being at peace
Judy Gaman is the CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, an award-winning author, speaker, and host of the Stay Young America! PodcastIn this conversation, she shares her insights on pain, its management, and the interconnectedness of emoti...
TPF #14: Darkness and Light
In this episode of TPF, we explore the interaction between darkness and light. We discuss how true victory isn't about eliminating darkness entirely, but about understanding how to navigate and "walk on" it. The conversation concludes by challe...
TPF #13: Pain and Noise
On this episode of TPF, we explore how constant external noise—coming from news, social media, and other people's endless chatter—distracts us from our goals. We examine how this relentless input debilitates our minds and bodies, ultimately wor...
TPF #12: Flatlines
On this episode of The Pain Factor, we analyze the "electrocardiogram" of our lives. Are we truly living, or merely existing? We explore the inseparable link between pain and change: recognizing that growth demands discomfort, advancem...
TPF #11: A Life to Love
What does it mean to create a life you love when you're also living with constant pain? This idea can feel impossible, and even condescending.On this episode of TPF, we dig into the motivations behind this powerful question and explore t...
TPF #10: Painkillers
On this episode of TPF, we take a respite to stop and contemplate what the one thing in your daily life that calms you down and brings you deep joy is. What offers a quiet reprieve from the everyday struggle? This week on, we take a moment to c...