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 clinical work, what it can (and can’t) do well, and why the human elements of care—empathy, presence, collaboration—remain irreplaceable. You’ll hear how we’re using AI tools like ChatGPT in our content creation and case planning, the limitations we’ve seen in clinical decision-mak...
Jul 06, 2025•24 min•Ep. 188
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 them stuck in a cycle of appointments and short-term relief. You’ll learn: ✅ Why “the medical merry-go-round” fails patients with complex pain ✅ How to use simple questions to promote reflection and a...
Jun 23, 2025•17 min
Are you battling self-doubt and endless distractions that keep you from creating something that matters? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, I share how I spent six months fighting my own inner critic and finally took action on a project I deeply care about. We’ll talk about: ✅ Why even experienced clinicians feel like imposters sometimes ✅ The small, practical steps that helped me beat procrastination ✅ Tools and habits I’m using to stay focused and off the doomscrolli...
Jun 08, 2025•11 min•Ep. 186
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 clinicians can advocate for real change—both in their practice and the communities they serve. 📃 Article - Advancing Physiotherapy in Mental Health: Guiding Principles for Whole-Person Care 📕 Integrative Rehabilit...
May 25, 2025•45 min•Ep. 185
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 short and explore how guided discovery can lead to better outcomes for people in pain. If you’re a clinician looking to improve your communication skills and create more meaningful connections with your patients, thi...
May 19, 2025•49 min•Ep. 184
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 outcomes. Cameron shares insights on process-based care, complexity science, the role of EMRs, and the potential for AI to revolutionize the patient experience. If you’re a clinician or healthcare provider looking t...
May 11, 2025•46 min•Ep. 183
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 to alignment, why selling your services is an ethical obligation, and how to transition from just treating pain to guiding patients toward long-term health and resilience. If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting to do right by your patients and keeping your business thriv...
Apr 27, 2025•18 min
What if more treatment isn’t the answer? In this episode, we explore Creative Hopelessness—an ACT-based exercise that helps patients with persistent pain reflect on the real impact of their symptom management strategies. You’ll learn how to guide patients to see their patterns, validate their efforts, and gently open the door to a new, values-based direction. 👇 Download the FREE clinician guide to walk through this exercise in your own sessions: https://modernpaincare.com/hopelessness *********...
Apr 20, 2025•13 min•Ep. 181
🎙️ Have you ever treated someone with what seemed like a typical MSK problem—but the pain just didn’t add up? Burning, zinging, unpredictable symptoms? In this episode, Mark Kargela breaks down the clinical presentation of neuropathic pain, how to screen for it confidently, and 4 common mistakes that lead to missed diagnoses. ✅ Learn how to distinguish neuropathic from nociceptive and nociplastic pain ✅ Use simple tools like a paperclip and a coin to screen for small fiber dysfunction ✅ Underst...
Apr 06, 2025•18 min•Ep. 180
🎙️ Is whiplash just a musculoskeletal issue—or are we missing something bigger? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Annina Schmid and Dr. Joel Fundaun—two of the world’s leading researchers on nerve involvement in whiplash. They reveal the surprising evidence from recent studies showing that many patients with Grade II whiplash have signs of neuropathic pain, nerve inflammation, and sensory loss—and they share simple ways frontline clinicians can catch it early. ✅ Learn how small fiber deficits, ...
Mar 30, 2025•43 min•Ep. 179
🎙️ In this episode of The Modern Pain Podcast, Mark Kargela chats with Tom Walters, DPT—founder of Rehab Science, educator, and digital health innovator. Tom shares how he transitioned from a traditional orthopedic physical therapist to building a global online brand helping millions through coaching, education, and his bestselling book. We dive into: ✅ Why coaching and education may be more impactful than hands-on care ✅ How Rehab Science became a leader in virtual rehab & social media hea...
Mar 23, 2025•51 min•Ep. 178
🚨 In this episode of The Modern Pain Podcast, Mark Kargela interviews Sandy Hilton, a pioneering physical therapist and expert in pelvic health and pain care. 🚨 Sandy shares her fascinating journey from treating loggers in Oregon to leading change in pelvic health and pain management globally. We discuss why pain care is falling behind, the massive issues with the modified Oswestry assessment, and why treating pain with pain must stop. 👉 You’ll learn: • How Sandy entered the world of pelvic h...
Mar 16, 2025•48 min•Ep. 177
Participate in our research study Amy's First Episode ✅ Ever battled with chronic pain or long COVID symptoms? Discover Amy Eicher's remarkable journey from being dismissed and misdiagnosed to becoming her own best advocate. In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, Amy shares her personal story of dealing with chronic pain, understanding long COVID, and navigating the intricacies of the healthcare system. Expect eye-opening insights, practical takeaways on resilience, pacing, and self-advocac...
Mar 09, 2025•56 min•Ep. 176
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela challenges clinicians to rethink their approach to pain treatment. He discusses how the pursuit of certainty can lead practitioners to rely too heavily on specific tools, neglecting the complexity and individual nature of pain. Using the parable of the blind men and the elephant, he illustrates the pitfalls of mistaking partial perspectives for the whole truth. Mark advocates for a values-based approach, emphasizing the importance of ...
Feb 24, 2025•7 min•Ep. 175
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela discusses the evolution of pain treatment from a solely biomechanical model to a more holistic biopsychosocial approach. Initially rooted in biomechanics, Mark shares his journey of realizing the limitations of this model and the rise of psychologically informed care. He emphasizes the importance of integrating both biomechanics and psychological strategies for effective pain management. Through various patient case studies, Mark illu...
Feb 02, 2025•9 min•Ep. 174
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, join Mark Kargela as he discusses the challenges in pain care and the gaps in clinician education. Discover how to provide psychologically informed care and learn about a new comprehensive community-based program designed to empower clinicians as pain management leaders. Mark shares insights on the need for a paradigm shift from quick fixes to lasting, meaningful change and invites you to be part of this transformative journey. Join the waiting list an...
Jan 13, 2025•6 min•Ep. 173
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela sits down with Jim Stark, an insightful and experienced physical therapist with over 30 years in the field. Jim discusses the limitations of our current 'illness care system' and shares his journey of integrating holistic and spiritual approaches into physical therapy, focusing on chronic and persistent pain. Learn about the importance of being authentic, the concept of narrative medicine, and powerful, practical strategies like breat...
Dec 29, 2024•34 min•Ep. 172
Join us in this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast as we sit down with Brian Pulling to explore groundbreaking research on why people with knee osteoarthritis avoid physical activity despite its known benefits. Brian shares insights from a study using the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to uncover subconscious beliefs associating movement with danger. We delve into how these implicit threat associations differ from explicit beliefs and the implications for clinical practice. Brian also shares hi...
Dec 02, 2024•56 min•Ep. 171
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Dr. Mark Kargela interviews physical therapist Chris Hughen. Chris shares his journey from aspiring strength coach to established physical therapist, highlighting the importance of mentorship, the pitfalls of chasing certifications, and the value of embracing uncertainty in clinical practice. Chris also discusses how his background in coaching influences his patient interactions and the necessity of maintaining good professional relationships. Tun...
Nov 03, 2024•58 min
Join us for an insightful episode where host Mark Kargela engages with expert Jen Uschold, a physical therapist and lifestyle medicine coach. Delve into the integration of traditional physical therapy with coaching and mental fitness to foster stronger client-therapist relationships in pain management. Discover the significance of motivational interviewing, emotional intelligence, and 'mental fitness' principles covering positive psychology, performance science, CBT, and neuroscience. Explore th...
Oct 27, 2024•49 min•Ep. 169
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, Mark Kargela explores the false dichotomy of passive versus active care in pain management, emphasizing that neither is inherently detrimental. He discusses the unique roles of passive care techniques like manual therapy and active care, which encompasses more than just exercise. Mark highlights the importance of personalized, patient-centered approaches that consider the patient's values and life circumstances. The episode underscores the significant ...
Oct 13, 2024•11 min•Ep. 168
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela explores the intersection of environmental considerations and physiotherapy with Filip Maric, Founder of the Environmental Physiotherapy Association, and Jessica Stanhope, a Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide. The discussion delves into the environmental blind spots in physiotherapy practice, emphasizing the importance of incorporating natural environments into treatment settings. The episode highlights research linking gre...
Oct 07, 2024•46 min•Ep. 167
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela is joined by Mathilde Kehler to explore the transformative shift from a 'fixer' to a 'coach' in helping patients manage chronic pain. They delve into the importance of positioning the patient as the main character, focusing on their goals, and leveraging their resources rather than just diagnosing and treating symptoms. Mathilde shares her journey from physiotherapy to creating a pain coach program, emphasizing the need for personaliz...
Sep 22, 2024•51 min•Ep. 166
In this episode of The Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela interviews Trevor Barker, a remarkable individual who transitioned from battling chronic pain with a medicalized approach to living well despite the pain. Trevor shares his compelling journey from relying on heavy medications and invasive treatments to embracing a holistic and human-centric approach that significantly improved his quality of life. He details his involvement with Pain Revolution and how community support and shared exp...
Aug 25, 2024•46 min
n this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela discusses the philosophy of science as it pertains to pain research with philosophers Rani Lill Anjum and Elena Rocca. The conversation revolves around their book, which critiques traditional scientific approaches and emphasizes the importance of understanding philosophical biases in research. The trio explores how empirical methods often fail to address the complexity of individual pain experiences, the ethical dilemmas in excluding c...
Aug 19, 2024•57 min•Ep. 164
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela sits down with Emily Rich, an occupational therapist and POTS specialist, to discuss Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and related conditions like Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Emily shares her personal journey with POTS, her PhD research, and offers practical tips for clinicians to better identify and manage these complex conditions. Emily emphasizes the importance of humility in clinical pr...
Aug 11, 2024•53 min
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela sits down with clinician and long COVID experiencer, Daria Oller. Daria shares her journey from contracting COVID-19 in March 2020 to becoming an advocate for education and understanding about long COVID. This discussion delves into the complexities of treating long COVID, the importance of listening to patients, the need to move beyond traditional exercise biases, and tips for clinicians on managing the fluctuating symptoms of this c...
Aug 04, 2024•47 min
In this episode of the Modern Pain Podcast, host Mark Kargela dives into the complex relationship between exercise and pain management. He explores traditional beliefs about exercise, discusses graded exposure and graded activity techniques, and emphasizes the importance of personalized, patient-centered approaches. Mark highlights the need to tailor exercise to individual patient preferences and values rather than imposing generic fitness routines. He also discusses the role of narrative and pa...
Jul 21, 2024•26 min•Ep. 161
In this episode, we explore the critical role of empathy in clinical settings. As a clinician, acknowledging a patient's pain by simply listening and validating their feelings can be profoundly impactful. Learn the importance of saying 'I hear you' and offering sincere apologies to foster a deeper connection and support for those in need. A Path Forward - Keith's Facebook Blog Keith's X Profile ********************************************************************* 📸 - Follow us on Instagram - ht...
Jul 14, 2024•49 min•Ep. 160
In this episode, we welcome Paul, a former massage therapist turned scientific writer, who shares his journey from clinical practice to founding the PainScience.com website. Paul discusses the evolution of his career, the challenges of transitioning to science writing, and the importance of maintaining ethical standards in a field often dominated by simplistic solutions. He also delves into the misconceptions around pain science and the need for a deeper understanding of physiology. Whether you'...
Jul 07, 2024•52 min•Ep. 159
