Calling In Sick

By Just MediaMedicine Health & Fitness

Calling In Sick episodes

July 22 Pregnancy Q&A: Cyclospora Anxiety, Birth & Feeding Plans, Registry Decisions & more!
This week on Calling in Sick, I’m answering all your pregnancy Q&A!

We're diving into:
🥬 My Cyclospora anxiety — what foods I’m avoiding and why I’m mad at the government (lol)
🩺 How to actually start your pregnancy journey with chronic illness — the preconception appointment you NEED to make now!!!
👶 Second trimester update — autoimmune status, ultrasound anxiety during gap, and how I’m feeling overall
🧬 Why we’re NOT scared about passing on my chronic illness to our kids
💉 My birth plan — My thoughts on my delivery, epidural & pain medication, and if I feel guilt about my decisions
🍼 Feeding plans — How I’m thinking about breastfeeding, freeze-dried donor milk, and formula
🛏️ Sleep planning — How we’re trying to stay ahead of the sleep deprivation (lol!!)
🛒 My top Registry picks — and the things that have already changed !!!

xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: What's the one pregnancy question you wish someone had answered honestly for you?

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:00:54 Coping with pregnancy anxiety, food rules, and parasite fears
00:01:56 Substack updates: group chats and weekly posts

Q&A - Pregnancy & Chronic Illness Planning:
00:02:56 Navigating pregnancy planning with chronic illness
00:05:42 Mid-pregnancy check-in
00:11:28 My thoughts on genetic testing and passing on chronic illnesses

Q&A - Nursery, Birth Plans & Registries:
00:14:01 What we’ve done to prep his nursery so far
00:16:00 My thoughts on preparing for labor
00:17:44 Ditching the medication guilt during pregnancy
00:19:04 How we are (trying!!) to prepare for postpartum life + sleep deprivation
00:22:13 The HARDEST picks on my registry - Strollers, mattresses, and pumps

Conclusion:
00:26:14 Are we going to change our minds… again!?
00:27:28 Thank You for Listening!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#PregnancyQA #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #HighRiskPregnancy #LupusPregnancy #AutoimmunePregnancy #BabyRegistry #BirthPlan #SecondTrimester #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #MaternalFetalMedicine #NightNurse #BabyBoy #MomToBe #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #PregnancyAnxiety #GeneticTesting #Breastfeeding #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
34 min
July 20 Chronic Illness Q&A: Staying Positive, Infusion Prep, New Endometriosis Trials & More
This week on Calling in Sick, I’m answering all your chronic illness Q&A!
We're diving into:
⚖️ The NUMBER ONE rule I live my life by and navigate chronic illness with
💉 My top tips for preparing for an infusion
⚠️ The Amazon supplement warning you need to hear!!
💼 How I navigate work with chronic illness (corporate America and entrepreneurship)
🔬 The Endometriosis medication trial you NEED to hear about (Endo 205 Peptide)

Plus my thoughts on toxic positivity, my thoughts on optimization culture, riding the waves of life's dualities, and why community is the thing that actually keeps me going on the hard days.

xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: What's your number one chronic illness life hack that has actually moved the needle for you?

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:00:29 RSVP for Calling in Sick’s Next Virtual Event (Fourth Wing Book Club)

Q&A - Finding Balance & Life Hacks:
00:01:53 Finding positivity while chronically sick
00:03:51 My #1 TIP for managing life and chronic illness
00:05:53 How I prepare for and navigate immunotherapy and chemotherapy infusion days

Q&A - Wellness Culture, Supplements & Career:
00:07:53 My HOT TAKE on optimization culture and the wellness industry
00:10:56 The truth about the supplement market
00:13:49 Navigating corporate America with a chronic illness
00:16:47 Managing entrepreneurship on the hard days
00:19:25 How the Calling in Sick podcast got started
00:24:00 Exciting advancements in women's health (Endo 205 peptide)

Conclusion:
00:27:12 One Brain Cell Show: Love Island (+ California’s new great streaming law!!)
00:28:13 Substack Updates!!!
00:29:38 Thank You for Listening!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicIllness #LupusPregnancy #AutoimmuneRemission #Endometriosis #EndoResearch #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllnessLife #Lupus #Vasculitis #8020Rule #SupplementWarning #ChronicIllnessCareer #ChronicIllnessMom #PregnancyWithChronicIllness #PatientAdvocacy #Rituxan #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
36 min
July 15 Living at the Intersection of Chronic Illness and Autism (ft. Patrick Casale)
This week on Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, Patrick Casale is back — and we're getting into the overlap that almost nobody talks about - living at the intersection of autism and chronic illness.

Patrick found out he was autistic in 2021. At almost the exact same time, he started choking on his food, regurgitating, waking up gasping. For nearly a year he was told it was acid reflux. Or GERD. Or — say it with me — anxiety. Have you tried mindfulness? It turned out to be Zenker's diverticulum, a condition affecting a fraction of a percent of the population, most of them over 65. Sound familiar?

We're diving into:
🫁 Patrick's diagnostic odyssey — a year of being disbelieved, and the one provider who finally said "you sound like you have this really weird condition"
🧠 Why autism, ADHD, POTS, MCAS, hEDS and chronic fatigue keep showing up together — and why nobody's connecting the dots for you
🚩 The gaslighting-to-self-gaslighting pipeline — how being dismissed enough times teaches you to dismiss yourself
📋 Interoception, people-pleasing & underselling — why you say "a 4" when it's really a 12, and how that delays your care
🎤 Rapid-fire online stereotypes — "ADHD is just a lack of discipline," "you don't look autistic," "everyone's a little bit autistic," "getting accommodations is cheating," "everyone experiences burnout." Patrick gets the mic drop on all of them.
🎭 The masking conversation nobody's having — why "just unmask!" is a privileged take, and when masking is genuinely the right call
♿️ High vs. low functioning — why "high functioning" is not a badge of honor, and how it lands you in burnout

Plus: accommodations are your legal right, not a favor. Stop asking. Start telling.

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: what's the "ism" you're most tired of hearing? I'll add it to the list.

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Ask Alex! (Ft. Patrick Casale)
00:00:25 Patrick's chronic illness diagnosis (Zenker's diverticulum)

Patrick Casale:
00:04:06 Finding the right provider — and the moment you believe yourself again
00:08:44 The crossover of autism and chronic illness
00:13:20 Tips for navigating care (interoception, people-pleasing + reference docs)
00:16:20 Rapid fire online stereotypes (self-diagnosis, masking, burnout, etc)
Conclusion:
00:36:10 Where to find Patrick
00:37:20 Thank you for listening!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?

Connect with our guest, Patrick Casale, MA:
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/patrick.casale/?hl=en
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@patrickcasale
• Podcast (All Things Private Practice + Diverging Conversations with Dr. Megan Neff) - https://www.youtube.com/c/allthingsprivatepractice
• Substack - https://patrickcasale.substack.com/
• Website - https://www.allthingspractice.com/freebie-vault-2026
• TedX Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyImqW69OY4
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#AutisticBurnout #LateDiagnosedAutistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD #Masking #Unmasking #InternalizedAbleism #ChronicIllness #Dysautonomia #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DisabilityAwareness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #PatrickCasale #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
46 min
July 13 Living with Autism: Late Diagnosis, Internalized Ableism, Unmasking (ft. (Patrick Casale, MA)
This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Patrick Casale — licensed clinical mental health counselor, TEDx speaker, host of Diverging Conversations with Dr. Megan Neff, and someone who found out he was autistic at 35.

If you're chronically ill, neurodivergent, or living at the intersection of both, this one is going to hit. We get into what happens when the world's box is simply not built for your body or your brain — and what it costs to keep forcing yourself into it anyway.

We're diving into:
🧠 Autistic burnout is NOT workplace burnout — you cannot fix it with a four-day weekend or a spa vacation, and Patrick explains exactly why
🎭 The masking bill comes due — scripting small talk, mimicking facial expressions, not knowing what to do with your hands, and the fatigue that follows
🔍 Diagnosed at 35 — the internal ableism, the imposter syndrome, and the "grief-relief paradox" of finally having a name for your whole life
⚡️ "An exposed nerve ending going through life" — the line a friend said to Patrick that reframed everything
👋 The great friend shedding — why people say "you're always sick now," and how you find the ones who move to the shade for you
❤️‍🩹 Reparenting your inner child — the fidget toy, the little girl at a 100 person dinner, and repairing the kid who never got support

We also go WAY down an Anthony Bourdain rabbit hole, because of course we did.

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: tell me about the person in your life who accommodates you without ever making it a “thing”.

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! (Ft. Patrick Casale)
Patrick Casale:
00:04:43 What is autistic burnout? (And why a spa weekend won't fix it)
00:07:50 Introduction to Patrick — background, career + the ADHD diagnosis
00:18:34 Pursuing an autism diagnosis at 35 — masking, assessment, disclosure
00:29:00 Coming to terms with autistic identity (the grief-relief paradox)
00:31:55 Internalized ableism
00:35:52 The great friend shedding
00:43:55 Reparenting your inner child
Conclusion:
00:47:07 One Brain Cell Show: Apple TV, cooking competitions & comfort rewatches
00:53:03 Where to find Patrick
00:54:15 Thank you for listening!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?

Connect with our guest, Patrick Casale, MA:
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/patrick.casale/?hl=en
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@patrickcasale
• Podcast (All Things Private Practice + Diverging Conversations with Dr. Megan Neff) - https://www.youtube.com/c/allthingsprivatepractice
• Substack - https://patrickcasale.substack.com/
• Website - https://www.allthingspractice.com/freebie-vault-2026
• TedX Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyImqW69OY4
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#AutisticBurnout #LateDiagnosedAutistic #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #AuDHD #Masking #Unmasking #InternalizedAbleism #ChronicIllness #Dysautonomia #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DisabilityAwareness #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #PatrickCasale #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 3 min
July 08 How to Manage Chronic Pain Without Breaking the Bank | Q&A with Pain Psychologist, Dr. Rachel Zoffness
This week on Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, I'm sitting down with Dr. Rachel Zoffness — pain scientist, pain psychologist, Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF, lecturer at Stanford, and author of Tell Me Where It Hurts. We are getting into the practical side of chronic pain management. Because understanding the science is one thing… but actually having tools you can use today, regardless of your budget or access to care, is another.

We're diving into:
🏃 Movement as medicine — where to start when you can barely move, and why even stretching or pedaling your legs while lying down changes your brain chemistry
🧘 Biofeedback — what it is, how it works, and why the American Migraine Foundation says it can be as effective as popular pharmaceutical drugs for migraines
🧠 How your prefrontal cortex magnifies pain — and why distraction and joy are not just "nice to haves" but actual clinical tools
👻 Phantom limb pain — 80% of amputees experience pain in limbs that no longer exist, and what that tells us about where pain actually lives
🔥 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) — what it is, how it hijacks your physiology, and why the cycle of avoiding movement makes it worse
📚 Accessible resources — Dr. Z's workbooks and protocols for people who cannot access or afford private clinical care

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: What activity or moment has ever given YOU unexpected relief from your chronic pain?

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:00:04 Guest Intro: Dr. Rachel Zoffnes, pain scientist and clinical psychologist

Improving Accessibility in Pain Management:
00:01:48 Dr. Zoffnes’ workbooks and pro bono work for free access to treatments
00:02:35 Movement as Medicine: Starting where the body and brain are ready & the biological benefits
00:03:52 "Fuzz Therapy": The data-backed impact of pets on pain

Biofeedback and the Mind-Body Connection:
00:04:41 Introduction to Biofeedback: Using sensors to read biological processes
00:07:02 The science of stress: How fight-or-flight affects skin temperature & what to do about it
00:09:16 Biofeedback effectiveness for migraines compared to pharmaceuticals

Understanding Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS):
00:10:12 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS): Physiological hijacking and symptoms
00:13:52 The cycle of protection: How lack of movement amplifies pain
00:15:20 The Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) as a magnifier of physical sensations… and how using distractions can lower the “pain volume”

Conclusion:
00:18:14 Thank you for listening!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?

Connect with our guest, Dr. Rachel Zoffness, PhD:
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/therealdoczoff/?hl=en
• Resources - https://www.zoffness.com/resources
• Website - https://www.zoffness.com/

Buy her book here: https://amzn.to/4aDThGb
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicPain #PainScience #BiopsychosocialModel #PainPsychology #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrRachelZoffness #TellMeWhereItHurts #PainManagement #NeuroplasticPain #CentralSensitization #TraumaAndPain #ChronicPainAwareness #PainRecipe #PainDial #PainReprocessing #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 min
July 06 Can You Retrain Your Brain to Reduce Chronic Pain? | Dr. Rachel Zoffness
This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Dr. Rachel Zoffness — pain scientist, pain psychologist, Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF, lecturer at Stanford, and author of Tell Me Where It Hurts. If you have chronic pain, chronic illness, or you've ever been told your pain is "just stress" or "all in your head" — this episode is going to change the way you think about your body forever.

We're diving into:
🧠 The biopsychosocial model — why pain lives at the intersection of biology, psychology, AND sociology, and why treating only one is failing patients
🍳 Your pain recipe — the ingredients driving your pain up and down, and how to identify YOUR low-pain recipe
⛽️ The pain dial — how emotions act as a volume knob for pain, and why joy and laughter are actually medicine
👻 Phantom limb pain — the proof that pain is constructed in the brain, not just in tissue
😴 The ingredients most people never connect to pain — sleep, stress, trauma, diet, and your nervous system
💊 What actually works — biofeedback, CBT-I, pain-science PT, trauma-informed therapy, and why insurance covers surgery but not the treatments with the best evidence

This is not a hopeless conversation. Dr. Z's message is clear: chronic pain has more tools than we are told. And there are ingredients in your pain recipe that haven't been targeted yet!!!

xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: What's one thing in your life that you've noticed turns your pain dial UP — and what turns it DOWN?

TIMESTAMPS:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:00:04 Guest Intro: Dr. Rachel Zoffnes, pain scientist and clinical psychologist

Understanding Chronic Pain:
00:02:52 Acute vs. Chronic Pain: The distinction and definitions
00:04:30 Addressing the myth that pain is "all in your head"
00:05:44 Phantom limb pain and how the brain constructs pain
00:07:05 The "Pain Recipe": Identifying high pain vs. low pain ingredients

The Biopsychosocial Pain Model:
00:12:38 Intro to the Biopsychosocial Model (Biological, Psychological, Sociological)
00:14:14 The Psychological Domain: Shared neural real estate between emotions and pain
00:18:41 The Sociological Domain: Trauma, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors
00:21:04 Exploring the somatic (physical) components of every emotion

Trauma, Sensitivity, and Recovery:
00:24:13 Trauma's role in priming a hyper-sensitive nervous system
00:27:02 The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and susceptibility to chronic pain
00:32:17 Expanding horizons: Finding the right providers (PT, OT, Biofeedback, CBT-I, EMDR)
00:42:22 Gaps in medical education regarding pain science & the insurance part

Conclusion:
00:47:12 One Brain Cell Show: Awakening (Oliver Sachs) Robin Williams Stand-up comedy (everywhere) and Clarkson’s Farm (Amazon Prime)
00:51:10 Thank you for listening!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?

Connect with our guest, Dr. Rachel Zoffness, PhD:
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/therealdoczoff/?hl=en
• Resources - https://www.zoffness.com/resources
• Website - https://www.zoffness.com/

Buy her book here: https://amzn.to/4aDThGb
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

#ChronicPain #PainScience #BiopsychosocialModel #PainPsychology #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DrRachelZoffness #TellMeWhereItHurts #PainManagement #NeuroplasticPain #CentralSensitization #TraumaAndPain #ChronicPainAwareness #PainRecipe #PainDial #PainReprocessing #MentalHealth #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
58 min
July 01The Cutting Edge of Chronic Pain Treatment (& What's Overhyped) | Q&A with Alec Bradbury (FNP)
This week on Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, Alec Bradbury, FNP is back for round two — and we're getting into what's actually on the cutting edge of chronic pain. New research, new healing modalities, what we're both genuinely excited about, and where to pump the brakes before you hand over your money.

If you've ever been told your pain is "of unknown origin," or you've been burned chasing a miracle cure, this one is for you.

We're diving into:
🧠 Nociplastic pain — the THIRD pain type (only formally named in 2017!) and why it finally validates conditions like fibromyalgia, IBS, and chronic low back pain
📊 Function over the pain scale — why "rate it 0-10" fails you, what to document instead (especially if you're seeking disability), and the BPI
🔬 What's a real breakthrough — the PRT trial (66% pain-free or nearly so after 4 weeks, with results holding at 5 years) + EAET for trauma
💊 What's new in meds + tech — suzetrigine (the non-addictive Nav1.8 blocker), closed-loop spinal cord stimulators, and AI "digital twins"
🍄 The hopeful frontier — ketamine, psilocybin & MDMA therapy, PRP, and why Alex calls ketamine a turning point in her CRPS
🚩 Buyer beware — the stem cell clinic stats that'll scare you, and the rule: if anyone sells you a silver bullet, RUN

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: what's a chronic pain treatment you're curious about — or one that actually worked for you?

🎧 New here? Go back to Monday's full episode with Alec for the foundation on how pain is taught (and mistaught).

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
What's changing in how pain is talked about + documented
Nociplastic pain — the third pain type, finally named
Function over the pain scale (and why it matters for disability)
The humanness of pain + implicit bias on what pain "should" feel like
Believing your patients — lived experience vs. taking it at face value
Genuine breakthroughs: the PRT trial + 5-year follow-up
EAET for trauma — and how trauma changes pain physiology
New meds + tech: suzetrigine, spinal cord stimulators, AI digital twins
The hopeful frontier: ketamine, psilocybin, MDMA + Alex's CRPS story
PRP, PEMF, infrared — "woo woo" going mainstream
Buyer beware: stem cells, false claims + the silver bullet rule
Thank you for listening!

Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?

Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Find Alec: https://www.instagram.com/alecbradburyfnp/

Alex's Picks of the Week:

Since we're talking pain, here are my two favorite pain management tools 💊
✨ CBD Living Topical CBD — THC-free, nano-sized CBD for better absorption + a menthol cooling effect. The ONLY topical that's ever given me real relief (note: not pregnancy-safe) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-54591626

✨ Salonpas Lidocaine Patches — pregnancy-safe, ~$10/pack, lasts about a month. Always in my purse, hospital go-bag, and chemo bag — https://amzn.to/4wfu3X5

#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #PainManagement #NociplasticPain #NeuroplasticPain #PainReprocessingTherapy #KetamineTherapy #Fibromyalgia #CRPS #PainResearch #MindBodyConnection #ChronicPainAwareness #PatientAdvocacy #AlecBradbury #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
23 min
June 29How to Actually Get Heard by Your Doctor About Chronic Pain (ft. Alec Bradbury, FNP)
This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down with Alec Bradbury, FNP — the provider you've probably seen on socials making chronic pain feel a whole lot less terrifying, isolating, and lonely. He's a nurse practitioner doing street medicine for the unhoused in Orange County, he teaches the next generation of providers about chronic pain, AND he runs a 1:1 coaching program. Basically, a badass.

We get into what providers are actually taught about pain in school… and the rude awakening Alec had when he started practicing and hit the bottom of the "toolbox" over and over again. If you've ever been told your scans look "fine" while you're in very real pain, this one is FOR YOU.

We're diving into:
🧠 How pain is really taught in school — and why that framework fails chronic pain patients
🔬 "Real and biological" — central + peripheral sensitization, and why neuroplastic pain is NOT "all in your head"
🩻 The MRI myth — why disc degeneration shows up in people with zero pain (96% of 80-year-olds!), and why we're "treating imaging, not patients"
🤝 Mind AND body, not mind OR body — the biopsychosocial approach, PRT, and the trauma of being dismissed
🗣️ How to actually be heard at appointments — bring a buddy, lead with curiosity, and make them document the rationale

And of course… reach out to us with any questions!!!

xx, Alex

💬 Comment: what's a time you felt dismissed at an appointment — and what did you do?

🎧 New to PRT? Go back to our December 2024 episode with Vanessa Blackstone for the full download on pain reprocessing therapy.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!
00:02:10 Alex's Picks of the Week
00:03:40 Meet Alec Bradbury, FNP — street medicine, teaching + coaching
00:07:15 Rapid fire: fact or fiction about chronic pain
00:11:00 How chronic pain is taught in school (and why it falls short)
00:15:00 Why new pain research isn't reaching the clinic yet
00:18:15 The moments Alec started questioning the toolbox
00:22:30 Rabbit holes: John Sarno, mind-body medicine, PRT
00:27:30 Mind AND body — and the trauma of "it's all in your head"
00:34:00 What actually changes in the nervous system (sensitization)
00:38:30 The MRI myth — degeneration in pain-free people
00:44:30 Treating imaging vs. treating patients + meeting people where they are
00:50:30 Why Alec started posting online (his 1-year anniversary!)
00:55:00 Communication that works: feel understood first
00:58:30 Your patient toolkit: bring someone, top 3 concerns, curiosity, documentation
01:03:00 Duvet day pick: anime, Frieren + Studio Ghibli
01:05:30 Thank you for listening!
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568

Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?

Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Find Alec: https://www.instagram.com/alecbradburyfnp/

Alex's Picks of the Week:
Since we're talking pain, here are my two favorite pain management tools 💊
✨ CBD Living Topical CBD — THC-free, nano-sized CBD for better absorption + a menthol cooling effect. The ONLY topical that's ever given me real relief (note: not pregnancy-safe, sadly) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-54591626
✨ Salonpas Lidocaine Patches — pregnancy-safe, ~$10/pack, lasts about a month. Always in my purse, hospital go-bag, and chemo bag — https://amzn.to/4wfu3X5

#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #PainManagement #NeuroplasticPain #MindBodyConnection #PainReprocessingTherapy #ChronicPainAwareness #InvisibleIllness #MedicalGaslighting #PatientAdvocacy #BiopsychosocialPain #ChronicPainWarrior #AlecBradbury #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 12 min
June 24 Pregnancy Myths Busted: Sushi, Sleeping & Sharing the News Early | Q&A with Dr. Shevell (MFM, OBGYN)
This week on Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, Dr. Tracy Shevell is back and we are busting every pregnancy myth I've heard online this year. Sushi. Sleep position. The "12 week rule." Glowing pregnancies. ALL of it!!

We're diving into:
🤰 Why I announced my pregnancy at 5.5 weeks — and why Dr. Shevell says waiting 12 weeks can actually be detrimental
😤 Restrictive laws on women’s healthcare and the pregnancy implications
🍣 The sushi myth — what's actually safe to eat and what isn't, and why it's about the bacteria, not the fish
😴 The sleep position myth — when sleeping on your left side actually matters and when it doesn't
😤 Stress does NOT cause miscarriage — what actually does, and why this myth needs to die
✨ Why "glowing" is not a requirement — it is completely normal to feel awful and hate being pregnant

Plus the bigger conversation about bodily autonomy, restrictive healthcare laws, and why trusting your own intuition matters more than ever… especially in the third trimester.

xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: what’s your number one tip for someone THINKING about starting their pregnancy journey!!!

TIMESTAMP:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Early Pregnancy and Support:
00:00:10 Sharing pregnancy announcements early (five weeks?!)
00:02:06 Miscarriage statistics and reducing shame
00:04:02 Living in Texas and fears regarding first-trimester complications
00:06:51 The impact of restrictive laws on women's healthcare
00:10:32 Myth busting pregnancy myths: sushi, listeria, hot tubs and more
00:21:15 Pregnancy myths Dr. Shevell wishes to eliminate

Conclusion:
00:22:27 Balancing loving and hating pregnancy
00:26:26 Thank you for listening!

----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:
Since we’re chatting about high risk pregnancy… here’s two of my favorite pregnancy-safe supplement brands!
✨Needed. protein powder — https://amzn.to/4oIffh8
✨Ritual pre-natal vitamins: ⁠https://go.shopmy.us/p-64830281⁠
( 50% off until 6/30!! )

#PregnancyMyths #PregnancyTips #HighRiskPregnancy #MaternalFetalMedicine #MiscarriageAwareness #PregnancyAnnouncement #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #PregnancyJourney #MomToBe #FirstTrimester #BodilyAutonomy #PregnancyFacts #DrTracyShevell #ChronicIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
34 min
June 22 Everything You Need to Know About High-Risk Pregnancy (ft. Dr. Tracy Shevell, MFM OBYGN)
This week on Calling in Sick, I'm sitting down (AGAIN!) with Dr. Tracy Shevell, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (aka high-risk pregnancy OBGYN), to demystify everything about what a high-risk pregnancy actually means and is. So whether you have a chronic illness, you're newly pregnant, or you're just trying to understand if you need to see an MFM… this episode is your full 411.

We're diving into:
🩺 What is an MFM? — the OB/GYN subspecialty most people have never heard of, and why it matters
⏰ When to actually see an MFM — and why pre-conception appointments are a great idea
🚩 What "high-risk" actually means — maternal conditions, fetal conditions, and everything in between
💊 The medication myth that needs to die — why stopping your meds during pregnancy is often more dangerous than staying on them
📝 The phrase that changes everything — what to say when you feel dismissed at an appointment

And of course… reach out to us with any questions!!!

xx,
Alex

💬 Comment: what’s your biggest question around high-risk pregnancy?

TIMESTAMP:
Intro:
00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick!

Understanding MFM and High-Risk Pregnancies:
00:00:41 What is an MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) doctor?
00:06:51 Who needs to see a high-risk OB-GYN?
00:13:50 What to expect at first MFM appointments
00:20:16 The TRUTH about stopping meds and pregnancy
00:27:03 Conditions that are contraindications to pregnancy
00:37:11 Managing stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy
00:38:36 Building a "village" and practical registry ideas
00:44:06 Preparing for MFM appointments and asking the right questions

Conclusion:
00:49:03 Understanding hospital admissions and late-pregnancy monitoring
00:55:18 Final advice for "chronic illness girlies" considering pregnancy
01:05:01 Thank you for listening!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568
• Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/
Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:
Since we’re chatting about high risk pregnancy… here’s two of my favorite pregnancy-safe supplement brands!
✨Needed. protein powder — https://amzn.to/4oIffh8
✨Ritual pre-natal vitamins: https://go.shopmy.us/p-64830281
( 50% off until 6/30!! )

#PregnancyMyths #PregnancyTips #HighRiskPregnancy #MaternalFetalMedicine #MiscarriageAwareness #PregnancyAnnouncement #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #PregnancyJourney #MomToBe #FirstTrimester #BodilyAutonomy #PregnancyFacts #DrTracyShevell #ChronicIllness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 12 min

About Calling In Sick

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Calling in Sick, hosted by Alex Wildeson and produced by Just Media. On this podcast, Alex shares her unfiltered personal journey battling several autoimmune and chronic conditions…