Like Mind, Like Body

Alan Gordon has spent his entire career helping people to overcome pain they’ve been told is incurable. How? By looking at it from a different perspective: as a neural pathway problem. His approach has been successful enough to build the foundation for the Pain Psychology Center: a Los Angeles-based treatment facility that employs 19 therapists. But before Alan treated these incurable pain conditions, he lived through them. 22 different types of unexplainable symptoms, to be exact. Join us to hear more about Alan’s personal struggles with pain, how he helps his patients through their symptoms, and upcoming research that may change the way the medical system approaches pain.

When a double-boarded physician developed pain conditions so severe she couldn’t lift a dinner plate, she thought her career was over. For a full decade, she was out of a job, living in pain, and searching for answers in every corner of medicine. Join us as Dr. Alicia Bond Batson shares the story of how she found a solution in an unlikely place: her own brain.

Susan Brown, a San Francisco attorney, shares her inspiring journey of battling chronic migraines and finding hope through the Curable app. She candidly discusses her extensive struggle with traditional treatments, emphasizing the emotional toll of her pain. Susan reveals how mind-body techniques and the app's unique features transformed her approach to pain management. The power of shared experiences and supportive communities plays a crucial role in her recovery, offering insight into alternative solutions for chronic pain sufferers.

In his mid-thirties, Aaron led a pretty normal life - he was married with kids, an active runner, and the breadwinner of his family. Then one day, all of that changed. A mysterious pain appeared in his foot, and quickly led to a string of doctor visits, incurable diagnoses, Lyrica, painful injections, and talks of surgeries. Within a span of six months, Aaron started using a scooter for mobility. Join us as Aaron shares his long journey of physical pain, anxiety, depression, recovery, and hope.

Is giving really receiving in disguise? According to Dr. Stephen Post, best-selling author of “Why Good Things Happen To Good People,” that’s usually the case. He says we’re biologically hard-wired to flourish when we’re contributing to the community, and the research backs him up. Join us as Dr. Post discusses the health benefits of giving, how much is too much, and why the rules are different for people in caring professions.

Dr. Howard Schubiner has appeared on the list of Best Doctors In America three times - and there’s a good reason why. Patients flock to him from around the country to get simple, straightforward answers to chronic aches and pains that baffle most physicians. Fibromyalgia, chronic widespread pain with no evidence of structural tissue damage, ranks near the top of that list. Dr. Schubiner joins us to explain his understanding of fibromyalgia, and why he thinks his methods have produced results where even the most cutting-edge drugs have failed.

Stanford professor and mindset researcher, Alia Crum, discusses the impact of mindset on dieting, exercise, and healthcare. Topics include the placebo effect in exercise, healthcare providers' influence on allergic reactions, and the power of mindset in managing chronic illness and pain.

Dr. John Stracks, a premier mind-body physician from Chicago and former chronic pain sufferer, shares his remarkable journey from being a medical mystery to a healer. He discusses his life-changing experience discovering Dr. Sarno's techniques, which shaped his approach to understanding pain. Stracks highlights the crucial link between emotional and physical health, emphasizing the importance of a positive mindset and the role of personal growth in overcoming chronic pain. His insights inspire listeners to embrace pain as a pathway to healing and empathy.

John Evans knows first-hand how transformative a few writing sessions can be to someone's physical and mental health. 13 years ago, he picked up Jamie Pennebaker's hallmark book Writing to Heal and used it to navigate his life’s biggest challenges, including a struggle with PTSD and an advanced cancer diagnosis. Today, he's devoted his life to helping others transform their lives the way he has. He runs a 6-week intensive writing program, and even ended up co-authoring a book with Jamie Pennebaker called "Expressive Writing: Words that Heal." Join us as he explains the connection between our words and our health, and gives tips on how to use expressive writing effectively.

"What does it matter what we think?" That's the question Dr. Tor Wager has spent years in the research lab trying to answer. Now, as Director of the Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab at CU Boulder, he uses brain imaging studies to understand the neural connection between our thoughts, feelings, and physical pain. Join us as he breaks down the placebo effect, explains the neuroscience of chronic pain, and shares stories of just how powerful the mindbody connection is.