The Pain Factor
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 physical, mental, and emotional pain. Through shared information, personal narratives, and professional insight, 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
29 episodes
TPF The Right Forest
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...
TPF #9: Pain and Psychological Therapy
Ready to stop making excuses? On this episode of TPF, we challenge you to face a simple question: Have you truly considered therapy, or have you simply dismissed it? We cut through the common myths and excuses to reveal why it’s a powerful tool...
TPF #8: Pain and Toxic Positivity
On this episode of TPF, we challenge the myth of relentless positivity. We'll discuss how forced optimism can invalidate our struggles, sabotage our plans, and paralyze us from moving forward. This isn't about just wishing for a better future—i...
TPF #7: Pain and asking for help
This episode of TPF is about taking action. We dive into the struggle of admitting you need help and taking the courageous step to ask for it. We’ll examine the demands of modern life, the fear of public judgment, the anxiety of being exposed a...
TPF #6: Super Pill
In this episode of TPF, we're diving into a topic that, while potentially uncomfortable, is supported by scientific evidence. Instead of pointing fingers, we'll get honest about the common reasons and excuses people use to avoid confronting the...
TPF #5: Pain and the distractions of garbage
In this episode of TPF, we confront a frustrating reality: how wasting time can intensify our pain. In a society where distraction has become the norm rather than the exception, we must ask ourselves which habits we need to shed and which we ne...
TPF #4: Depression: The Relentless Beast
In this episode of TPF, we explore the impact and the extent of control that depression can have over our lives. We also examine external factors, such as ignorance and stigma, that amplify our struggle with depression. Toward the end, we confr...