Beyond The Pain

Episode Summary
In this episode, Leigh Brandon sits down with Mario Mancini to explore the real science and clinical wisdom behind acupuncture. Far from being a last-resort therapy, Mario explains how acupuncture acts as a powerful “signal amplifier,” helping the body regulate, reset, and repair.

They break down how acupuncture influences the nervous system, immune function, endogenous pain-relief pathways, and meridian systems — as well as how lifestyle, digestion, inflammation, and stress can amplify chronic pain. You’ll also hear why breathwork and self-regulation practices enhance treatment results and why genuine connection is a core part of the healing process.

What We Cover in This Episode:
• How acupuncture optimises the body’s healing systems
• M1 → M2 macrophage switching and immune modulation
• Why acupuncture enhances other therapies
• How meridians relate to modern physiology
• The role of endogenous opioids in pain relief
• Using acupuncture post-surgery to improve tissue regeneration
• Why chronic pain often isn’t about the original injury
• How diet, digestion and stress amplify persistent pain
• How breathwork supports regulation and recovery
• The biopsychosocial model and whole-person healing

Connect with Mario Mancini

Website: https://manciniacupuncture.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manciniacupuncture
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforIntegrativecare/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@centerforintegrativecare

Connect with Leigh Brandon

Website: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/
Download Leigh’s Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/
Leigh’s courses:
StickAbility – https://stickabilitycourse.com/
Mastering Client Transformation (Professional Course) – https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/

Struggling with chronic pain that won’t shift?

In this episode, Leigh speaks with Liz Wong, whose work in Neuro-Affective Touch reveals how pain can be a communication tool from the body — and why healing often requires more than stretching, strengthening, or managing symptoms.

Liz shares how touch, presence, and relational safety can help release stored trauma, calm the nervous system, and reconnect people with the parts of themselves that have been shut down for years.

If you feel stuck, unheard, or like you’ve “tried everything,” this conversation offers hope, clarity, and a completely different pathway out of pain.

You can contact Liz:

http://www.somaticwellness.co.uk

You can contact Leigh:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

After months of debilitating migraines and post-concussion syndrome, Ethan Reisboard discovered an unexpected path to recovery — hypnotherapy.

In this episode of Beyond the Pain, Ethan shares how he went from chronic pain and frustration to complete healing by working with the subconscious mind. We explore how hypnotherapy helps reprogram pain responses, calm the nervous system, and create lasting change beyond surface-level relief.If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of pain and nothing seems to work — this one’s for you.

⏱️ What You’ll Learn:

00:00 – Introduction and announcement

03:10 – Ethan’s journey from post-concussion syndrome to recovery

10:45 – What hypnotherapy really is and how it works

18:30 – How the subconscious mind influences pain perception

26:20 – Techniques to calm the nervous system and reduce pain

38:10 – Real client success stories

47:00 – How you can start using these principles today

💡 Key Takeaways:Hypnotherapy can help break the body’s chronic pain loopThe subconscious mind plays a major role in pain perceptionYou can retrain your brain for calm, balance, and healing

🎧 Be sure to subscribe to the channel, hit the notification bell, and leave a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you enjoy the show.

You can find Ethan @:

EthanReisHypnotherapy.com

If you previously followed Leigh on Facebook or Instagram, you can now re-follow — the new details are:

instagram.com/beyondthepainpod/

facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583282725889

You can also find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠bodychek.co.uk/

⁠Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/

⁠Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠stickabilitycourse.com/

⁠Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

In this episode, Leigh Brandon speaks with Kris Rice, founder of ChillPod, about the surprising power of cold therapy to transform both body and mind.

Kris takes us through her journey from avoiding cold water to embracing it as a daily tool for recovery, resilience, and emotional balance. Together they explore:

• The science of cold exposure and its effects on the nervous system

• How cold therapy can reduce pain, inflammation, and speed up recovery

• The mental and emotional health benefits of cold plunging

• Why accessibility and safety are key to sustainable cold therapy practices

• The future of cold immersion in the wellness and recovery world

Whether you’re managing pain, recovering from injury, or simply curious about the hype around cold plunging, this conversation will help you understand why stepping into the cold could be one of the warmest decisions you ever make for your health.

You can find Kris @:

https://thechillpod.co/
https://www.instagram.com/thechillpod.co
https://www.instagram.com/krisricewellness
You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

Former collegiate golfer and musician Brooke McPoyle joins me to share her journey from living in pain to helping others heal through breathwork and fascia. We dive into the powerful link between breath and brain function, the role of fascia in pain and recovery, and why stress and emotions can keep you stuck in pain.

Brooke also introduces her fascia flow techniques, showing how simple practices with breath, hydration, and awareness can reduce pain, speed up healing, and even improve performance. Whether you’re struggling with chronic pain or looking to optimise your body, this episode is packed with insights and practical tips to help you feel and move better.

You can find Brooke @:

Website  
Instagram  
YouTube 
LinkedIn
Facebook 

You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

This week on Beyond The Pain, I’m joined by Rob Brinded, a movement specialist and coach who has dedicated his career to helping people overcome pain and performance challenges.

Rob introduces the concept of the “hamster wheel” — those repetitive cycles of thought and behavior that can keep us trapped in suffering. We dive into the connection between emotional and physical health, and why true healing starts with self-awareness and personal responsibility.

Through real-life stories and powerful examples, Rob shows how a shift in mindset can create lasting changes in both body and mind. This is a conversation that will challenge the way you think about pain and open new doors to healing.

You can find Rob @:

https://www.robbrinded.com/
https://www.glitchthebook.co/

You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

In this episode of Beyond the Pain, Leigh Brandon sits down with Helen Hindley, who shares her remarkable journey from the world of finance into nutrition and cutting-edge Cold Atmospheric Plasma technology.

Helen introduces the Human Regenerator, a pioneering device designed to enhance the body’s natural healing processes. She explains how it works, its potential benefits for pain relief and recovery, and shares inspiring client success stories. Together, Leigh and Helen explore how this technology compares to more familiar wellness modalities such as infrared saunas, red light therapy, and cryotherapy, as well as what new users can expect in their very first session.

Before this conversation, Leigh hadn’t yet tried the Human Regenerator himself — but stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear his very first experience with the device.

If you’re curious about innovative approaches to overcoming pain and supporting long-term health, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

You can find Helen @:

https://www.regenifyhealth.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/regenifyhealth
https://www.facebook.com/regenifyhealthuk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-hindley

You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

In this episode of Beyond the Pain, I sit down with Chiropractor Jason Gilbert for a powerful conversation about what pain really is, how to uncover its true root causes, and how to eliminate it through a truly holistic approach. We explore why taking responsibility for your actions and being willing to make the necessary — and sometimes challenging — lifestyle changes is essential to alleviating pain and reclaiming your quality of life.

A quick note: Jason’s internet connection wasn’t the most stable during our chat, so the audio and video fade a little at times, and I did need to cut out some sections. But the insights he shares are absolutely worth staying with, and I look forward to welcoming him back on the show in the future for a clearer, even deeper conversation.

You can find Jason @:

https://jasongilbert.com.au

https://www.instagram.com/jasongilbertofficial/

You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

Concussion headaches and lingering pain don’t have to be a life sentence. In this episode, neurological occupational therapist Nate Pope reveals how individualized therapy, neuroplasticity, and holistic rehab at NCX Brain Recovery are helping patients overcome post-concussion syndrome and reclaim their lives.

You can find Nate @:

https://www.ncxbrainrecovery.com/
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel
Instagram

You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

What if the root of your chronic pain and fatigue isn’t a structural issue or a lack of iron—but actually too much of it? In this eye-opening episode, Morley Robbins reveals why iron overload and low copper are at the heart of modern chronic health conditions, including persistent pain.

We dive into why standard blood tests often miss the real story, how stress and inflammation distort iron metabolism, and why copper and ceruloplasmin are essential for regulating both iron and oxygen. If you’ve struggled with pain, fatigue, or mystery symptoms, this conversation could completely change how you view your health.

You can find Morley @:

[email protected]

https://therootcauseprotocol.com/

You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠