A podcast that confronts head pain, head on.

        

5 Stars on Apple Podcasts

“Talking Head Pain” Episodes

Check out episodes of “Talking Head Pain” with Joe Coe and Sarah Shaw below and be sure to subscribe for access to future episodes.

In this special episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe speaks with Dr. Eyal Maoz Halevy, a Frontiers Award recipient at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium.

Dr. Eyal Maoz Halevy shares what he has found most impactful at the Symposium, and discusses his research on the role of physical activity as a vital sign (PAVS), revealing surprising insights about physical activity levels in migraine patients.

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe Coe is joined by Kelly Gavigan Lorant, Director of Data Management and Analytics at GHLF, as they explore the findings from a recent patient-centered survey on migraine. Kelly also explains how GHLF’s research registry, originally focused on rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions, has expanded to include a broader spectrum of chronic diseases, including migraine.

Discover the insights gained about migraine patients, their treatment paths, and how these can intersect with other chronic conditions. This episode provides a unique look into the evolving understanding and management of migraine within the chronic illness community.

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Kellie, a staunch advocate for migraine and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Kellie walks us through her journey of living with a TBI from when she was in college to now with the critical work she is doing to provide migraine educational resources to employers and employees via Migraine at Work.

Listen in as Kellie bravely opens up about her struggles with depression and migraine and her battle of overcoming the stigma attached to seeking help for mental health issues. Kellie also shares the significance of having a supportive network and the role of education and advocacy in reshaping the narrative about migraine attacks.

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Avi, who lives with migraine and other chronic illnesses. Through his migraine journey, Avi shares with us the difficulty he and his family encountered trying to get diagnosed. Avi also breaks down the challenges he faces navigating the health care system as a trans man and non-binary person. He shares his experiences of being misgendered and deadnamed (when a transgender person is referred by their birth name after transitioning) in doctors’ offices, highlighting the need for greater gender-affirming care.

In this week’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Amanda, a migraine patient, advocate, stay-at-home parent, and educator living with multiple chronic health conditions. Join Sarah and Amanda as they dig into the ebbs and flows of being a parent living with chronic migraine, things we’ve learned from the migraine community, getting the confidence to advocate and speak up for ourselves, the importance of normalizing talks about your chronic illnesses and mental health with your family unit and finding time through self-care of dopamine searching through bird watching and memes.

In this week’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Bernadette, a migraine advocate, digital creator, and somatic-informed certified educator who runs a chronic illness Instagram account called “chronicaccounts.” Bernadette is a former classroom teacher who now focuses on educating and supporting others to understand their life with migraine disease better.

Join Sarah and Bernadette as they discuss Bernadette’s journey navigating multiple misdiagnoses, leading to a delayed migraine diagnosis, pivoting from a well-loved career, and finding community. Hear how Bernadette’s migraine diagnosis journey ultimately led her to patient advocacy.

In this week’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Dr. Nina Riggins, a board-certified neurologist who specializes in headache medicine and traumatic brain injury. The episode sheds lights on the intersection of migraine, weight management, and the impact of a new class of weight-loss drugs, GLP-1 agonists. Joe provides his own patient insight by sharing his personal experience with weight loss and migraine. Together, they also discuss the importance of a patient-specific plan and open communication between doctors and patients.

In this week’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Simar, a university student from Australia who lives with migraine and runs a migraine advocacy Instagram account called “studywithmigraine.”

Join Sarah and Simar as they dive into navigating life as a university student living with migraine, the challenges of getting a migraine diagnosis as a woman of color, and the importance of finding doctors who take migraine and mental health seriously. Hear from Simar as she shares her lived experiences of coping with the isolation of chronic migraine and navigating accommodations in college.

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah welcomes back guest Shruti Shivaramakrishnan, a migraine and mental health advocate, to explore the complex relationship between chronic migraine, mental health, and navigating health care systems.

Join Sarah and Shruti as they discuss the profound impact of migraine on mental health, and shed a light on the need for continued dialogue and support in the migraine community.

In this special episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe speaks with Dr. Barbara Nye, a Neurologist, Headache Specialist, and the Program Director for the Headache Fellowship at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Recorded live at the American Headache Society’s (AHS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Austin, they discuss the latest trends and developments in headache research, including a focus on diversifying patient representation and understanding the unique experiences of different ethnicities and genders. Dr. Nye also sheds light on the AHS’s ambitious plan for the next five to 10 years, with an aim to enhance headache diagnosis and management, possibly incorporating AI and genetic-based strategies.

In this special episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe speaks with Dr. Barbara Nye, a Neurologist, Headache Specialist, and the Program Director for the Headache Fellowship at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Recorded live at the American Headache Society’s (AHS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Austin, they discuss the latest trends and developments in headache research, including a focus on diversifying patient representation and understanding the unique experiences of different ethnicities and genders. Dr. Nye also sheds light on the AHS’s ambitious plan for the next five to 10 years, with an aim to enhance headache diagnosis and management, possibly incorporating AI and genetic-based strategies.

In this special episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe speaks with Dr. Hida Nierenburg at the American Headache Society’s meeting in Austin.

Dr. Nierenburg sheds light on the transformative potential of recent therapies in managing head pain and migraine, along with her anticipation for future breakthroughs in treatment. She also provides insight into her role as a mentor for her first fellow

In today’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe delves into the personal journey of Marta Mrozek, a psychotherapy student who lives with migraine. Marta opens up about chronic migraine and her initial reluctance to accept her diagnosis. She also discusses the powerful realization about needing therapy and finding the right support system, which helped her navigate her condition.

Join us, as we explore Marta’s unique insights into reimagining her life in the face of chronic migraine and her journey toward advocacy.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe chats with Rabia Kiani, a lifelong migraine patient. Rabia reflects on how her migraine attacks and ability to manage them have been significantly influenced by her access to various treatments across different periods of her life and geographic locations. Rabia also discusses her experiences with medication overuse, or ‘rebound’ headaches, due to frequent use of over-the-counter medication to keep her migraine at bay.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Genevieve Pharand, a lawyer and a member of the Board of Directors of Migraine Quebec. Genevieve discusses her journey from her first migraine attack at the age of 10 to the debilitating chronic migraines she began to experience in her 40s.

Genevieve discusses how her journey led her to become an advocate for fellow migraine sufferers. Tune in to listen to Genevieve’s testament to resilience and hope amidst the challenges of living with chronic pain.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Judith Klausner, a migraine patient and an artist from Massachusetts with a love for small, intricate, and overlooked things. Judith’s experience of invisible disability and chronic pain plays an integral role in how she views the world and creates art. Her work has been featured in Harper’s magazine, Reader’s Digest, the Huffington Post, and NPR.

Join Sarah and Judith as they discuss the inspiration for her children’s book on migraine attacks, Noah the Narwhal: A Tale of Downs and Ups as well as creating art with chronic and mental illnesses, and the importance of rest as a form of productivity.

On today’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by chronic migraine patient D’Sena’ and Bailey, her service dog, who helps her with her chronic illnesses. D’Sena’ is also a single mother of a child with migraine attacks, and she shares with us how she supports him during these episodes.

Join Sarah and D’Sena’ as they dig into topics such as caregiving, parenting, advocacy for children, service dogs, health insurance, and discrimination related to chronic migraine and health care for women of color.

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Sarah is joined by Kate Schwab, LCSW, a somatic therapist who also happens to live with migraine. Kate uses a client-centered approach to therapy, tailoring her treatment to each individual’s unique needs and goals. Kate integrates evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and psychodynamic therapy to help her clients achieve lasting change.

Join Sarah and Kate as they have a real conversation about how migraine and mental health intersect, what drew her to become a therapist, the stigma around speaking up about mental health and pain, and the importance of having an inclusive therapist that creates a safe space for those living with chronic pain like migraine.

In this special episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by his colleague Sarah Shaw, Senior Manager of BIPOC Community Outreach at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, to discuss an exciting update for Talking Head Pain: Sarah will be joining the podcast as a co-host.

Join Joe and Sarah as they discuss the podcast’s new direction, and how they will continue to uplift the voices of the migraine community that are not always represented.

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Dr. Nina Riggins, Director of the Headache and Traumatic Brain Injury Center at UC San Diego Health, a Neurologist, and Headache Specialist. By applying her passions for education and advocacy, Dr. Riggins is very active in the headache community and has participated in Neurology on the Hill as well as Headache on the Hill.

Join Joe and Dr. Riggins as they discuss her work providing migraine education to primary care doctors as well as her education and advocacy efforts aimed at bolstering awareness so patients can reach earlier diagnosis and achieve better management of their symptoms. Dr. Riggins also shares the latest on migraine treatment options and research advancements.

This week on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Susan McManus, a migraine patient and advocate who was diagnosed 20 years ago. Describing herself as a “highly functioning migraineur” when her kids were still at school, Susan’s life was turned upside down after her condition became chronic.

Join Joe and Susan as they discuss how she navigated the shift to chronic migraine, her advocacy journey, her involvement with Headache on the Hill, and what she’s learned in trying to remain active while surrounding herself with a great team of doctors.

On today’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by chronic migraine and long COVID patient Marnie Russ, Program Administrator for the National Kitten College Program (NKCP). Through her work at the Kitten program and speaking at migraine events like Headache on the Hill, Marnie has had a positive impact on both humans and our feline friends.

Join Joe and Marnie as they discuss caring for kittens, how migraine impacts relationships, and how COVID can change one’s headache.

On this week’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Wayne Anderson, DO, FAHS, FAAN, a neurologist in San Francisco, CA. In addition to being a provider, Dr. Anderson is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Neurology and takes part in advocacy events like Neurology on the Hill, so that he can be a part of a chorus of healthcare providers trying to improve the lives of those living with neurological disorders.

Join Joe and Dr. Anderson as they discuss Neurology on the Hill, the challenges facing providers, and how providers can become advocates.

This week on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Laura Laureta, a migraine patient and creator of Lit Up My Mind, a website dedicated to making resources about migraine and traumatic brain injury accessible to the community. Through this work, Laura turns the pain she’s experienced into hope for others.

Join Joe and Laura as they discuss Lit Up My Mind, being written off by doctors, and the fun of virtual game nights.

Last week, Joe attended Headache on the Hill, an advocacy event which brings migraine patients and providers to Capital Hill to share their stories with elected officials. Joe was able to meet up with Natalie Copeland, migraine patient/advocate, and Dr. Stephanie Nahas, a neurologist/advocate, who brought their stories and expertise to the nation’s capital.

Join Joe, Natalie, and Dr. Nahas as they discuss their goals for the 2023 Headache on the Hill.

Today on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Kelsey Feng, a migraine advocate and creator of the social media page, Kelsey’s Migraine. Through their work online and advocacy efforts like Headache on the Hill, Kelsey aims to end the stigma of migraine within the LGBTQ+ and East Asian communities.

Join Joe and Kelsey as they discuss Headache on the Hill, representation on social media, and the importance of increased research efforts.

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Dr. Jono Taves, a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of headache and migraine at the Novera Headache Center. Through his work at the center, his TikTok videos, and podcast, Dr. Taves inspires and educates the migraine community.

Join Joe and Dr. Taves as they discuss the neck’s connection to migraine, advice for those nervous about seeing a physical therapist, and easy stretches to try at home.

Today on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Alan Kaplan, Founder of NDPHaware. Alan lives with New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH) and started the organization to build community and advance research.

Join Joe and Alan as they discuss NDHP, online support groups, and the emergence of psychedelics.

On today’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Alicia Wolf, creator of the Instagram account, “The Dizzy Cook” and author of “The Mediterranean Migraine Diet: A Science-Based Roadmap to Control Symptoms and Transform Brain Health.”

Join Joe and Alicia in part two of their interview where they discuss the recipe for happiness, international cuisine, and meals with special meaning.

On today’s episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Alicia Wolf, creator of the Instagram account, “The Dizzy Cook” and author of “The Mediterranean Migraine Diet: A Science-Based Roadmap to Control Symptoms and Transform Brain Health.”

In part 1 of their interview, Joe and Alicia discuss getting diagnosed, the impact vestibular migraine has on relationships, and Alicia’s journey to becoming The Dizzy Cook.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Erica Carrasco, the founder of Achy Smile. Erica is a small business owner who creates migraine awareness apparel and merchandise, a great tool to advocate for chronic illness.

Join Joe and Erica as they discuss creating Achy Smile, Erica’s experience with physical therapy, and the pressures of trying to stick to a strict diet.

This week on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Kathy O’Shea, author of “So Much More Than a Headache: Understanding Migraine Through Literature.” In her book, Kathy delves into the pieces of literature that capture what it’s like to live with migraine.

Join Joe and Kathy as they discuss migraine in unexpected pieces, migraine as a literary tool, and the works that represent migraine poorly.

In the second part of our look back at 2022, we hear previous guests talk about topics such as mental health, social media, and being a guest on Jeopardy while having vestibular migraine.

On this very special episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe walks us through a few of the standout moments from the past year of incredible conversations with health care providers, migraine patients, and chronic illness advocates. With more than 50 episodes released in 2022, this was a memorable year to be a part of the Talking Head Pain community. Thank you for being a member of this fantastic network!

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Emily Klein, Professor of Education at Montclair State University, a migraine patient, and activist. Emily has lived with migraine for many years, and her patient journey echoes the experiences of many. From parenting with migraine to worrying about job performance, her story is one of perseverance and strength.

Join Joe and Emily as they discuss being an educator with migraine during the pandemic, parenting with migraine, and the importance of having the right health care team in your corner.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the European Headache Congress in Vienna, Austria talking with Dr. Messoud Ashina, Professor of Neurology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Director of the Human Migraine Research Unit at the Danish Headache Center and Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet Glostrup.

Join Joe and Dr. Ashina as they discuss the interictal burden of migraine and the need for continued research that gives patients hope.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the European Headache Congress in Vienna, Austria talking with Dr. Brad Torphy, Managing Director of the Chicago Headache Center and Research Institute.

Join Joe and Dr. Torphy as they discuss global access challenges and the need for more research on combination therapy.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the European Headache Congress in Vienna, Austria talking with Dr. Dimos Mitsikostas, Professor of Neurology at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Join Joe and Dr. Mitsikostas as they discuss his research on the nocebo effect.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Elena Ruiz de la Torre, Executive Director for the European Migraine and Headache Alliance (EMHA). Listen as Elena tells Joe about her career in migraine advocacy, what the EMHA does, and how she is working with European advocates to reduce migraine stigma.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is delayed at the airport. As he waits for his flight, Joe decided to connect with the community and share some tips for traveling with migraine.

This week on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by CarmenRose Fiallo, a migraine patient and advocate who documents her migraine journey on social media, showcasing the realities of living with a chronic disease.

Join Joe and CarmenRose as they discuss traumatic brain injuries, tips for injection days, and when to break up with your health care team

In this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by migraine advocate Candace Camper. Candace is the creator of an Instagram account that documents her migraine journey, as well as the ways in which her service dog, Clea, helps her manage migraine and seizures.

Listen as Joe and Candace discuss step therapy, getting prescribed injections, and how Clea plays a role in her health.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium talking to Annika Ehrlich, a nurse practitioner at the University of California, San Francisco Headache Center. Join Joe and Annika as they discuss her history in migraine care and the exciting topics they’re hearing about at the symposium.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium talking to Dr. Liza Smirnoff, a headache specialist at the University of Miami. Join Joe and Dr. Smirnoff as they discuss the importance of care of migraine in pregnant women and those going through gender affirming care, as well as the work she and her peers are doing in reducing the amount of monthly migraine days in adults.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium talking to Dr. Sarah Bobker, a headache medicine specialist who works at the University of California, San Francisco and is the Associate Editor for the American Headache Society’s journal, Headache. Join Joe and Dr. Bobker as they discuss the growth of headache medicine fellowships and why this matters for patients.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium with Dr. Adelene Jann, a headache specialist and licensed acupuncturist. They discuss how acupuncture can be used for migraine patients.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium talking to Dr. Lauren Natbony, a headache specialist who tells Joe about the connection between autonomic disorders, like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and migraine.

On this episode of Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium talking to Dr. Matthew Robbins, a neurologist and headache specialist. He is presenting on the relationship between migraine and COVID.

Today on Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium talking to Dr. Jennifer Robblee, a neurologist focusing on migraine and headache disorders. Dr. Robblee, a member of the Refractory, Inpatient, and Emergency Care (RIEC) specialty interest group, is researching effective ways to treat status migrainosus (or a headache that doesn’t respond to treatment or lasts longer than 72 hours).

Today on Talking Head Pain, Joe is on location at the American Headache Society’s Scottsdale Headache Symposium. He is talking to Dr. Vincent Martin, who is presenting on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and  its effect on people living with migraine.

This week on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Winnielyn Bautista, a physical therapist assistant, a migraine patient, and creator of the “Healing_W_ChronicMigraine,” an Instagram account dedicated to sharing Winnielyn’s migraine journey through engaging and empowering content.

Join Joe and Winnielyn as they discuss migraine hangovers, being a young person with a chronic disease, and having migraine attacks in the workplace. We also hear from Dr. Peter McAllister as he shares his advice on migraine hangovers and navigating migraine in the workplace.

This week on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Danielle Ali, cohost of the Wellness Evolution Podcast and Senior Systems Analyst at GHLF.

In this episode, join Joe and Danielle as they talk about needle phobia and the anticipation of getting a shot. As a bonus, Danielle walks us through a breathing exercise we can use when we need an injection.

This week on Talking Head Pain, Joe is joined by Michelle Tracy, an advocate, writer, and migraine patient. On social media, Michelle is very open about her journey with migraine and mental health. She is known for encouraging others to signal their need for support by posting the “Bat Signal,” a visible representation of needing help.

Join Joe and Michelle as they discuss the journey of finding a therapist, signaling for help, and the impact that new treatments have had on Michelle’s wellness.