Episodes
Jan. 11, 2026
Why Imaging Misses Chronic Pain: Structural vs Physiologic Thinking (Part 2)
Part 2 goes from definitions to implications. Bottom-up pain does not mean “it’s in the tissues.” This episode is a recording of a live interview with pain researcher and clinician Asaf Weissman. If you haven’t watched Part 1, start there—we laid the foundation: why pain semantics matter, how mixed…
Jan. 4, 2026
Nociception vs Pain: Why Semantics Matter in Chronic Pain (Part 1)
Chronic pain care is stuck—and definitions may be the reason. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we reset how clinicians talk about nociception and pain. This episode is a recording of a live interview with pain researcher and clinician Asaf Weissman, whose work explores the relationship between no…
Dec. 28, 2025
Chronic Back Pain? What ACTUALLY Helps Long-Term Recovery
Enrolling our next cohort of Pain Practice OS soon - JOIN US! Most back pain improves – but how we guide recovery makes all the difference. In this part 2 conversation with Dr. Jim Eubanks, we dig into: First-line care for acute low back painWhy rest is often the worst adviceThe role (and limits) o…
Dec. 14, 2025
The Back Pain Myths Making Recovery Harder (Part 1)
In this episode, Dr. Jim Eubanks, physiatrist and spine specialist, breaks down the most harmful back pain myths patients encounter online-and what clinicians can say instead. If you've ever struggled to help a patient move p...
Dec. 7, 2025
Why "Manual Therapy" Holds OMPT Back (Fellowship Director Responds)
I sit down with Mark Shepherd, fellowship program director, to tackle a controversial question: Is the "manual therapy" label holding back our profession?
Nov. 30, 2025
Chronic Pain, Lifestyle, and Data: How Pain Coach Helps Clinicians See What Really Matters
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, Mark sits down with physiotherapist and Pain Coach founder Lachlan Townend to unpack how lifestyle data, clinical reasoning, and tech can finally work together instead of against each other.
Nov. 16, 2025
The Existential Crisis Every Manual Therapist Should Have
Richard shares his journey from biomechanical certainty to embracing uncertainty, and how that shift has made him a better clinician and mentor.
Nov. 2, 2025
The Psychological Flexibility Clinicians Need (But Don't Have)
Pain management requires psychological flexibility—not just for patients, but for clinicians too. Bronnie Lennox Thompson reveals why embracing uncertainty builds better therapeutic relationships than projecting false certain...
Oct. 12, 2025
Acceptance, Agency & Chronic Headaches: How Benjamin Reclaimed His Life
Chronic pain doesn’t have to steal your purpose. In this episode, Benjamin shares how he’s navigated life with cluster headaches—and how he’s turning his journey into a mission to help others. Key takeaways How Benjamin first experienced his illness and what followedWhy acceptance became a turning …
Oct. 5, 2025
5 Steps to Transform Pain Care in Your Community
You’re not powerless to fix the system — you can lead change right where you are. In this episode, Mark Kargela walks you through 5 actionable steps any clinician can take now to transform how pain is treated in your community. What you’ll learn: • Why waiting for the system to change is a trap • H…
Sept. 28, 2025
Chronic Pain Needs Shared Expertise—not a Hero Clinician
Rethinking pain changes outcomes. Treating tissues alone leaves people behind.
Sept. 21, 2025
“We Believe You”: The Moment That Changed Chronic Pain Care
The pivotal power of “We believe you” in the clinic
Sept. 14, 2025
From Fighting Pain to Living Well: Joletta Belton’s Shift
This episode features Joletta Belton, a former firefighter who shares how years of battling hip pain left her life small—and how shifting to acceptance, values, and self-compassion helped her build a bigger life around pain. The conversation highlights practical strategies for clinicians, including…
Sept. 7, 2025
Beyond Kindness: Compassion Skills That Improve Pain Outcomes
Compassion is not just being “nice”—it’s a clinical superpower. Learn how inner compassion can transform both patient care and your resilience as a clinician. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why compassion is a contextua...
Aug. 24, 2025
Fighting Pain Made It Worse — Here's What Finally Worked
Fighting pain made things worse. Acceptance gave him his life back.
Aug. 10, 2025
Brain vs Body? How Emotions Shape Pain – With Dr. Mark Lumley
Most chronic pain care ignores one of the most powerful drivers of symptoms: our emotions. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mark Lumley, a leading researcher in Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), to explore how unprocessed emotions, trauma, and life stressors can directly influe…
July 27, 2025
Why We Need a Revolution in Pain Care (And How You Can Lead It)
Are you tired of surface-level solutions in pain care? In this episode, Mark Kargela pulls back the curtain on the massive gap in pain programming and why our current clinical education models are failing both patients and pr...
July 6, 2025
Why AI Can’t Replace Human Care in Chronic Pain
As AI continues to evolve and integrate into more areas of healthcare, many clinicians are asking: will we be replaced? In this episode, Mark Kargela and Ben Whybrow have a frank conversation about how AI is affecting clinica...
June 22, 2025
Escaping the Medical Merry-Go-Round of Chronic Pain
Many patients are doing something about their pain—but they’re still not living the life they want. In this episode of The Modern Pain Podcast, Dr. Mark Kargela breaks down how to help patients zoom out and reflect on whether their care is truly moving them toward what matters most—or just keeping …
June 8, 2025
Why Your Inner Critic is Lying to You (And How to Take Action Anyway)
Struggling with self-doubt and distraction? In this episode of Modern Pain Podcast, I share the honest journey of overcoming procrastination, imposter thoughts, and finally creating something that matters.
May 25, 2025
Whole Person Physical Therapy Is Here | Matt Erb on Mindbody Integration
Send us a text Pain Practice OS Waiting List Matt Erb returns to the show for an insightful and wide-ranging conversation on the future of physical therapy. We cover the limitations of the biopsychosocial model, practical mindbody strategies, billing within the system, trauma-informed care, and how…
May 18, 2025
From Telling to Guiding – Transforming Patient Communication
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Ben Whybrow, a pain specialist physio in the UK and new community manager for Modern Pain Care, to discuss the critical role of communication in modern healthcare. We break down why the traditional, paternalistic approach to patient interaction falls …
May 11, 2025
Breaking Healthcare Silos: Rethinking Physical Therapy and Chronic Pain Care
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Cameron Faller, co-founder of the Institute of Contextual Health, to discuss the future of healthcare. We explore the challenges of traditional, siloed care models and why a more interconnected, person-centered approach is essential for better patient…
April 27, 2025
Out-Value, Not Out-Volume: Ethical Sales in Modern Rehab
In today’s episode, we tackle one of the biggest tensions modern clinicians face: How do you keep your schedule full and patients engaged without fear-mongering or overselling? I share how to reframe “sales” from manipulation...