If you’ve ever felt burning during sex, pain with tampons, or like your urethra is on fire when you pee… this episode is a must listen.

Dr. Jill Krapf is a board-certified OB-GYN and one of the top specialists in vulvar and pelvic pain. She’s the Director of the Center for Vulvovaginal Disorders in Tampa, Florida, co-author of When Sex Hurts, and a leading voice in the field of vulvodynia, lichen sclerosus, and vestibulodynia.

In this episode, we cover:

• The difference between the vulva, vagina, and vestibule (and why that matters)

• What vulvodynia actually is—and why Dr. Krapf thinks the term might disappear in the future

• How tight pelvic floor muscles can block hormone delivery and cause chronic burning

• Why it can feel like a yeast infection even when it’s not

• The four root cause categories of vulvar pain: hormonal, muscular, inflammatory, and nerve-related

• What to do if pelvic floor PT isn’t working

• The Q-tip test and why it still matters

• Where to find specialists who actually get it

Whether you’re navigating a new diagnosis or searching for answers after years of misdiagnosis, this episode is packed with the science, validation, and hope you deserve.

Listen now and don’t forget to follow the show for more expert interviews and real talk on pelvic and bladder health!

Resources & Links:

• When Sex Hurts book: https://www.whensexhurtsthebook.com

• Dr. Jill Krapf on Instagram: @jillkrapfmd

• National Vulvodynia Association: https://www.nva.org

• ISWSH Provider Directory: https://www.isswsh.org

• Lichen Sclerosus Support Network: https://www.lssupportnetwork.org

In this episode of IC You, I sit down with nervous system therapist Grace Secker to explore the complex link between the nervous system, chronic stress, and food sensitivities—especially for those navigating chronic pain, interstitial cystitis (IC), OAB, and anxiety around food.

Grace and I share our personal healing journeys and unpack why food is not the enemy. From the role of emotional repression in physical symptoms to the power of visualization, we break down how nervous system dysregulation can fuel fear and flare-ups... and how to reintroduce foods safely.

Whether you’ve been stuck in a cycle of elimination diets or you’re afraid of triggering symptoms, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered, seen, and supported. You’ll walk away with real tools for healing—plus the encouragement to take your next step with compassion and clarity.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why nervous system dysregulation can mimic food allergies or sensitivities
• How shame, fear, and food labels create a stress loop in the body
• Visualization and somatic tools to calm the body before reintroducing foods
• The truth about food sensitivities: they’re not always permanent
• Why community support and nervous system education are key to healing

Join Road To Remission HERE

Connect with Grace:

Listen to the Heal With Grace podcast

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Grace's website

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine or medical care. The opinions shared are those of the guests and host and do not reflect any official medical guidance.

I just got back from a two-week whirlwind across Lisbon, Morocco, and the Azores, and this episode is the no-filter, full-body download you asked for. From hiking steep Lisbon hills in secondhand Dr. Scholl's to surviving a GI bug (plus a mini bladder flare) in a twin bed with one bathroom—this is the good, the bad, and the WTF moments of international travel with a history of pelvic floor and bladder symptoms.

Inside, I unpack:

• How I handled walking 10k+ steps/day with zero bladder drama
• The truth about European tapas, sardines, and bathroom culture
• My first real reckoning with low back pain as possibly neuroplastic
• Morocco wedding magic (and chaos) — heatwaves, hydration, and GI fallout
• How I navigated a flare with zero panic or spiraling
• Why healing doesn’t mean "never having symptoms again"

Work With Me:

Join Road To Remission

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In this solo episode, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how I’m prepping for a two-week trip to Portugal and Morocco — not just what I’m packing, but how I’m preparing my mind and body to feel good while traveling.

I share the essentials that keep me comfortable on long flights, how I manage travel anxiety (especially as someone with a history of chronic symptoms), and what I do in the days leading up to a big trip to stay regulated and grounded. From hydration habits to mental rehearsal, I’m walking you through the exact tools I use to travel confidently — and yes, even across time zones.

If you’ve ever felt nervous about traveling with IC, OAB, IBS, or just being away from your usual routine, this episode is for you.

Make sure you’re following me on Instagram @callieknutrition ...I’ll be sharing how things go in real time ✈️🌍

Work with Callie:

Click here to learn how Road To Remission can help you get relief from IC or OAB before the end of summer

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Disclaimer: Nothing shared on this podcast should be taken as medical advice. Please speak with your doctor or licensed provider before making any changes to your care plan.

If you’ve been dealing with urgency, frequency, dryness, or recurring UTIs, vaginal estrogen might be the missing piece. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Sarah Boyles, a board-certified urogynecologist, about how estrogen impacts bladder and pelvic floor health—especially during perimenopause and menopause.

We cover:
– Why vaginal estrogen is different from hormone therapy– The safest and most effective ways to use it– How it supports pelvic floor physical therapy progress– Common myths and what to ask your doctor

This is a must-listen if you feel dismissed or confused about your bladder symptoms and want real answers.

Connect with Dr. Boyles:

Website

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While You Wait Podcast

Work with Callie:

Get relief from interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder inside Road To Remission

Connect with Callie:

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health routine or medical care. The opinions shared are those of the guests and host and do not reflect any official medical guidance.

For the first time, I’m walking you through my full journey with interstitial cystitis (IC) and overactive bladder (OAB). From painful peeing in childhood to my first UTI during high school soccer, to years of restrictive diets, unhelpful doctors, anxiety, surgery complications, and the constant feeling that I was missing something.

Spoiler: I was.

In this episode, I share what finally helped after 29 years of living with chronic bladder symptoms. We cover the nervous system, the pelvic floor, and the emotional toll of being dismissed over and over. This story isn’t just about pain—it's about resilience, clarity, and what healing actually looked like for me.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into this journey, this episode is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed, isolated, or like they’ve “tried everything” with no relief.

In the episode, I discuss:• The pelvic floor truth no one’s explaining but absolutely should• How your nervous system could be the missing piece in your healing• Why community support isn’t just helpful, it’s essential• How I finally found real relief (and why it had nothing to do with cutting more foods or adding another supplement)• How I found symptom relief without meds or extreme food rules

You are not broken. There is another way, and I hope this story gives you a glimpse of it.

WORK WITH ME:

Learn more about Road To Remission here.

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This week, I’m joined by Dr. Logan Lynch, a pelvic floor physical therapist, to unpack one of the most overlooked tools in your healing toolbox: your breath.

But don’t worry, we’re not talking woo-woo “just breathe and manifest” fluff. We’re digging into the real mechanics of breath and how it affects your pelvic floor, nervous system, pain, and daily symptoms.

We cover:

• Why “normal” breathing might be making symptoms worse

• What 360 breathing is—and why it’s a game-changer

• How breath impacts pain, movement, and flare-ups

• Simple ways to build breath awareness without the overwhelm

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or deep in the healing trenches, this convo will change the way you think about your breath - and your body.

This episode is especially powerful for anyone navigating chronic pain, anxiety, or a tense-as-hell pelvic floor.

Connect with Dr. Logan:

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Join Road To Remission and get relief from your bladder symptoms in the next few months!

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This week, I’m joined again by the brilliant Vanessa Blackstone and Olivia Sinaiko, co-authors of the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook. We’re digging into something that’s both foundational and wildly misunderstood in the healing space: safety.

We talk about what it actually means to feel safe (spoiler: it’s not just doing deep breaths and saying “om”), why so many people struggle to access that sense of safety, and how our bodies carry the weight of fear even when our brains know better.

Vanessa and Olivia share personal stories that show just how layered this work can be, especially when it comes to unlearning the protective traits we picked up early on. We also get into grounding tools that don’t feel like a chore, why joy and play are essential parts of recovery (yes, even if you feel like trash), and how early life experiences shape the way your nervous system operates today.

This convo also touches on "small T" trauma, parenting under pressure, avoidance patterns, and the myth of fragility in the healing process.

Connect with Vanessa and Olivia:

Listen to Episode 80 (first episode with Vanessa & Olivia)

Join the PRT Workshop

Follow Vanessa on Instagram

Get The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook

Work with Callie:

Join Road To Remission to get relief from bladder symptoms just in time for summer!

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In this episode of IC You, I sit down with Vanessa Ballentine, an IC Warrior and my Road To Remission client who opens up about her raw and powerful journey with interstitial cystitis.

Vanessa shares what it was like to be misdiagnosed and dismissed by doctors, the anxiety that came with feeling like a medical mystery, and the spiral of food fear that took over her life. Like so many others, she was told to figure it out on her own — and nearly gave up hope. But everything changed when she joined Road To Remission.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it actually feels like to be dismissed by the healthcare system
• The emotional toll of food fear and constant anxiety
• Why symptom tracking helped Vanessa feel empowered (not overwhelmed)
• How nervous system regulation was a game changer
• The mindset shifts that helped her stop living in fear
• Why community support made all the difference

Vanessa’s story is a powerful reminder that healing is never linear — but with the right tools, guidance, and support, it is possible.

If you’ve ever felt like no one understands what you're going through… this one’s for you.

Work with Callie:

Apply to join the newly re-launched Road To Remission

Connect with Callie:

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What if your pelvic pain, urgency, or bladder flares aren’t just random—or even “just hormonal”?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Meagan Schwarzrock, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and founder of Pelvic Confidence, to unpack the complex connection between hormone fluctuations, pelvic floor dysfunction, and bladder symptoms. From your first period to pregnancy to menopause, hormones shape so much of what’s happening in your pelvic health—but they’re only one part of the picture.

We explore how shifts in estrogen can affect bladder function, why tracking your cycle might give you more answers than you think, and how your nervous system plays a role in amplifying pain and urgency. We also talk about the common misconceptions around pelvic pain and why so many women are still told surgery is their only option.

You’ll learn:

✅How hormonal changes throughout life stages impact bladder and pelvic floor function

✅Why estrogen is essential for pelvic tissue health (especially post-menopause)

✅How to identify symptom patterns by tracking your cycle

✅The surprising role your nervous system plays in symptom flares

✅Why pelvic floor PT is an underused but powerful tool for relief

Whether you’re dealing with cyclical pain, chronic urgency, or navigating a hormonal shift, this episode will give you the insight—and hope—you need to take the next step.

Connect with Meagan:

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Connect with Callie:

Want to learn how I can help you get relief from your bladder symptoms in the next few months? Join my FREE Open House on May 21st!

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