What happens when two champions of movement, self-care, and pain-free living join forces? Get ready for a powerhouse collaboration between Alexandra Ellis-Body Nerd, self-care coach, and myself, Dana Jones, the host of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast.

Together, we are breaking down the barriers to living pain-free and empowered. Alexandra brings her deep expertise in exercise biology, physical therapy, and injury recovery, making complex body science accessible and actionable for everyone.

This special crossover episode is more than just a conversation-it’s a fusion of two unique perspectives on movement, wellness, and the science of feeling your best.

Alex's Links:

Get started with the Mobility Mastery Toolkit - 30 days of mobility for your entire body.

www.aewellness.com

IG: @hollaformala

TikTok: @aewellness

YouTube: AE Wellness

Listen to The Body Nerd Show now, wherever you get your podcasts - and learn how to get stronger and more flexible, without it being too complicated or taking too long.

Dana’s Links:

https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com

10 Day Journaling Journey

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones sits down with physical therapist Denise Smith to explore the power of personalized care in athletic performance and recovery. Denise shares her expert insights on injury prevention, the importance of balance and agility for runners, and how the right footwear can make all the difference. The conversation also highlights the vital role of mental health in training and the unique mindset of ultra runners. Tune in for actionable tips and inspiration, plus a look at Denise’s exciting projects aimed at educating providers and building stronger athletic communities.

Denise's Bio:

Denise Smith has been a physical therapist for over 20 years and has spent her years obtaining certifications that allow her to treat each patient as an individual with a focus on hands-on manual therapy techniques, functional movement patterns, and advanced treatment of athletes of all levels. She specializes in treating runners with a focus on running technique teaching with the use of video analysis and individualized drills to teach proper movement to help runners run faster, run longer, and run without pain. Denise believes our bodies were made to move and sitting is a disease that will cause long term damage to our bodies.

Denise's Links:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

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Dana’s Links:

⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠

⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones welcomes Dr. Tawny Kross, a physical therapist and pain and wellness coach, for an in-depth conversation on the integration of psychology into physical therapy. Together, they explore how understanding pain from a psychological perspective can transform treatment, the impact of stress on pain management, and how pain perception evolves over time. Dr. Kross shares her experiences working with veterans and highlights the unique challenges they face with chronic pain. The discussion underscores the importance of a holistic approach to pain management—one that embraces emotional healing, body awareness, and the mind-body connection for lasting wellness.

• Podcast Website: painfreeathletepodcast.com
• Guest: Dr. Tawny Kross
• • Website: drtawnykross.com
  • Instagram: @dr.tawny.kross

• • Facebook: facebook.com/dr.tawny.kross

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones welcomes Erica Marcano, a seasoned certified athletic trainer and strength coach, for an in-depth discussion on the changing landscape of athletic training and rehabilitation.

The conversation centers on the importance of adopting a biopsychosocial approach to recovery—one that recognizes the interconnected roles of physical health, mental well-being, and social support in an athlete’s rehabilitation journey. Erica emphasizes how community and support systems can profoundly influence outcomes, advocating for athletes to actively participate and take ownership of their recovery process.

Key topics include the high prevalence of ACL injuries among women, with Erica shedding light on both the physiological and societal factors contributing to this trend. The episode also explores the growing challenge of tendinopathies in modern sports, highlighting the need for up-to-date, evidence-based strategies in both prevention and treatment.

Throughout the discussion, Erica stresses the significance of advocacy—not only for athletes’ immediate recovery but for their long-term health and well-being. She encourages athletes and practitioners alike to champion a more holistic, empowering approach to rehabilitation, ensuring that recovery is not just about returning to play, but thriving beyond it.

Erica's links:

Website: https://www.thenotoriousatc.com

Instagram: @notorious.atc

Dana’s Links:

https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones interviews Chris Toto, a primal health coach who specializes in helping women with Hashimoto's disease. Chris shares his personal journey of battling Hashimoto's, the lifestyle changes that led to his recovery, and his mission to empower women to overcome autoimmune symptoms. The conversation covers the importance of proper medical support, dietary approaches, and the significance of self-education in health management.Cris' links:https://cristoto.com/register-ig - masterclasshttps://www.facebook.com/ThePrimalItalianhttps://www.instagram.com/the.primal.italian/https://x.com/Coach_Toto7https://theprimalitalian.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/cris-toto72/Dana’s Links:https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.comPodcast Disclaimer:The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones interviews Georgie Oldfield, a pioneering physiotherapist and founder of SIRPA. Georgie shares her journey into the world of chronic pain treatment, her discovery of Dr. Sarno's work, and how it transformed her approach to pain management.

The conversation delves into the establishment of SIRPA, the evolution of training programs, and the importance of emotional awareness in chronic pain recovery. Georgie emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in treatment, as well as the connection between unresolved emotions and chronic pain.

BIO:Georgie Oldfield MCSP is a UK Physiotherapist who initially specialised in Respiratory Care, before changing direction in 1990, in order to be able to work part-time, after starting a family. Over the years she gained experience working with patients with varied conditions, including musculoskeletal, neurological and auto-immune conditions.Coming across Dr Sarno and visiting him in 2007 was an epiphany for Georgie, completely changing her professional life, as well as her own health. After starting out by working with her own patients, Georgie felt the calling to do more to raise awareness of this life-changing concept and approach. As a result of this she set up SIRPA in 2010 as a training organisation for health professionals and coaches, creating the first training in this field. This moved online in 2018 and in September 2024, SIRPA launches an exciting, new 3part online course. SIRPA’s membership runs alongside the courses, providing a strong community of practitioners. The membership provides support and guidance as practitioners evolve in this field, as well as providing ongoing peer support and clinical supervision.In 2011, Georgie also launched SIRPA’s first online recovery programme, which was completely redeveloped in 2022, and in 2014 she published her book, ‘Chronic Pain: Your Key to recovery’. Georgie continues to work to raise awareness of the concept of psychophysiological conditions. This has included being invited to give a TEDx talk in 2019, speaking at numerous events and being interviewed as a Specialist on the Tonight programme on ITV in the UK, about chronic pain. Since 2015, SIRPA has also organised and hosted international conferences in London, to which some of our US colleagues kindly came over to support us. The next conference will be in May 2025.

Georgie's Links:

Website: SIRPA

Facebook - /SIRPAUK

Instagram - sirpa_uk

Linked In - /georgieoldfield/

Dana’s Links:

https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Charlie Merrill, a physical therapist and founder of Merrill Performance. They discuss the integration of mind-body therapy in treating pain, particularly for athletes. Charlie shares his journey into this field, influenced by the works of John Sarno and Howard Schubiner, and emphasizes the importance of belief in recovery. The conversation explores the psychological aspects of pain, the role of neuroplasticity, and the need for athletes to unlearn harmful narratives about their bodies. Charlie also highlights the significance of understanding the emotional impact of training and racing, and how this knowledge can empower athletes to manage their pain effectively.takeaways

• Charlie Merrill emphasizes the importance of creating a niche in physical therapy.
• Belief in recovery is crucial for positive outcomes.
• Pain is a normal part of athletic life and serves as a protector.
• Neuroplasticity allows for change in how we perceive pain.
• Athletes often prefer physical explanations for pain over psychological ones.
• Understanding the emotional aspects of training can help manage pain.
• The brain plays a key role in regulating physical sensations and pain.
• Unlearning harmful narratives about pain is essential for recovery.
• Nutrition and mental state significantly impact athletic performance.
• The rise of ultra-endurance sports highlights the need for mental resilience.

Charlie's Bio:

Charlie Merrill is a Physical Therapist and the founder of Merrill Performance in Boulder, CO. He's synthesized treatment of the mind and body for over 25 years to support people in returning to a high level of performance in their lives. In his practice, Charlie combines traditional hands on manual therapy and movement with a novel mind-body approach to treat a wide range of clients including some of the best runners, cyclists, rock climbers, and CrossFitters in the world. In addition to being a master clinician, Charlie is an educator, clinical mentor, clinical consultant with Lin Health, and a content creator and influencer in the chronic pain space.

Charlie co-created the course "Beyond Pain Education" with Dr Howard Schibiner, MD to educate and mentor clinicians who are traditionally body oriented how to transition toward a more psychosocially informed approach to pain and function. He runs a 12 week immersive course for athletes looking to unlearn and overcome chronic symptoms called Unlearning Pain For Athletes. Charlie created and teaches a 6 week course for body oriented clinicians in collaboration with the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center. He’s a content creator appearing on Podcasts, his channel on YouTube, and is active on Instagram supporting people in pain. Charlie is actively involved in clinical research and consults in the digital health technology space. He also serves on the medical advisory board for "The Better Mind Center". Charlie is a lifelong competitive athlete in a variety of disciplines and lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and three teenage kids.

Dana’s Links:

https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Stephen Hicks about his journey from athletics to wellness. Stephen shares his personal experiences with injury and recovery, emphasizing the importance of overall wellness and the mind-body connection. He discusses the concept of holistic fitness, common misconceptions, and his nutritional practices aimed at supporting a healthy lifestyle. The conversation concludes with Stephen's future plans and an offer for listeners to access mindset resources.takeaways

• Stephen Hicks transitioned from athletics to wellness after a significant injury.
• Wellness is about participating in life, not just physical limits.
• The mind-body connection is crucial for overall health.
• What has been made can be remade through cellular regeneration.
• Holistic fitness encompasses mindset, nutrition, and environment.
• Nutrition should support energy and longevity.
• Common misconceptions about holistic fitness often stem from its spiritual connotations.
• Self-image plays a vital role in achieving wellness goals.
• Endurance athletes need to practice their nutrition strategies.
• Stephen is developing an online community and podcast for wellness education.

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  Steven's Links:

  
  

  https://thrivingbody.fit/

  
  

  Dana’s Links:

  https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com

  
  

  
  

  Podcast Disclaimer:

  The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.