In this episode of the IC You Podcast, I sit down with my client Landi to talk about her experience with interstitial cystitis, bladder pain, urgency, frequency, and burning that continued even when urine tests were negative. We talk about what happens when symptoms feel constant, why nervous system dysregulation can keep the cycle going, and how healing often looks slower and more layered than people expect.

Landi shares how her life changed after years of fear, restrictive diet advice, and feeling dismissed, and what began to shift once she started addressing neuroplastic symptoms and learning how to create safety in her body again.

What we talk about

• How her symptoms began with recurring UTIs and later constant urgency, frequency, and burning without infection
• Receiving an IC diagnosis and feeling lost after medications and instillations did not fully help
• How online forums and the IC diet increased food fear and anxiety
• Discovering nervous system dysregulation as a major root cause
• The shift from feeling at war with her body to working with it
• The role of community support, emotional processing, and self compassion
• Nervous system tools she uses daily, including journal speak, somatic movement, breathwork, tapping, and safety statements
• What progress looks like now as she returns to concerts, shopping, and line dancing
• Why she started her own podcast, Surviving and Thriving

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Did you know March is National Endometriosis Month?

In this episode, I’m talking about endometriosis, how it can show up, why it often takes way too long to get diagnosed, and what real relief can look like when you stop treating pain like it’s only a “tissue problem.” I’m joined by pelvic physiotherapist Jill Mueller, who shares her personal story, what finally helped her become symptom-free, and how she now helps others through pelvic physio, pain science, and nervous system work.

We also dig into the overlap between endometriosis, interstitial cystitis (IC), and overactive bladder (OAB), including why so many people with endometriosis have bladder symptoms even when endometriosis isn’t actually on the bladder. If you’ve ever wondered “Is this endo, IC, OAB… or all of the above?”, this conversation will help you connect the dots without spiraling.

Topics We Cover

• Why debilitating period pain isn’t “normal,” even if you’ve been told it is
• Fertility struggles as a common path to discovering endometriosis
• The difference between ablation vs excision surgery (and why training matters)
• The evolving role of ultrasound and MRI in diagnosing endometriosis
• Why symptom severity doesn’t always match how much endometriosis is present
• “Cross-sensitization,” and why pelvic organs can start acting like cranky roommates
• How predictable flares can become learned patterns (and how to interrupt them)
• Building a bigger “window of tolerance” so you’re not trapped in rigid rules to stay okay
• Why vacations can flare some people and calm others (and what that suggests)

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In this episode of IC You, I sit down with Faith Ashenden to talk about mind body healing, neuroplasticity, and how our response to symptoms can shape the healing process. Faith shares her story of living with chronic illness for a decade before discovering subconscious and nervous system work that helped her recover.

We discuss her recent UTI experience and why it felt like a non event, which leads into a deeper conversation about fear, identity, and the meaning we attach to flares. Faith explains how thoughts influence neurochemicals in the body, why chronic stress keeps the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and why healing often requires stepping away from the “chronically ill” identity.

We also share simple, realistic ways to support your nervous system day to day, from setting phone boundaries to focusing on presence rather than perfect routines. If you want to connect with Faith or explore her work, her links are in the episode description.

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In this episode, I’m joined by pelvic floor occupational therapist Paige Genova to talk about something that comes up constantly in the interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder space: why symptoms often continue even after the body has healed.

We break down how the nervous system and pelvic floor work together, how neuroplastic symptoms can develop after things like a UTI or stressful life events, and why focusing only on muscles or biomechanics can keep people feeling stuck. Paige shares how her Pelvicology framework blends brain and body work to help people move toward lasting relief.

We cover:

• The difference between pelvic floor PT and pelvic floor OT
• How fear and hypervigilance can amplify bladder sensations
• Why bladder diaries, trigger tracking, and over monitoring can sometimes backfire
• How to understand the role of neuroplasticity in IC, bladder pain, and OAB
• What it looks like to treat both tissue factors and the nervous system together

If you’ve ever wondered why your symptoms linger, started “out of nowhere,” or have not improved with traditional pelvic floor therapy alone, this episode will help you see your symptoms through a new lens.

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In this episode, I’m joined by therapist Vanessa Blackstone to talk about something I see all the time in the interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder space: the belief that our bodies are too fragile to handle life.

We break down how this mindset shows up through food fear, exercise avoidance, social isolation, and hypervigilance. Vanessa explains how this protective response forms, why it makes so much sense, and what to do when it’s no longer helping.

We cover:

• How the nervous system gets stuck in fear loops
• The connection between trauma and bladder symptoms
• What you’re actually telling your body when you avoid certain triggers
• How to build safety and flexibility without pushing too hard
• Vanessa’s 4-step process to work through fear and feel more free

We also share personal stories (including one about poop on a plane) to show that healing can include humor too.If you’ve been feeling limited, scared to live outside your routine, or unsure how to start challenging your symptoms, this one’s for you.

If you’re dealing with interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder, pelvic floor dysfunction, pudendal neuralgia, or just stuck in the chronic symptom spiral, this episode ft Dr. Howard Schubiner is a must-listen.

We dig deep into how your brain and nervous system play a huge role in symptoms like urgency, frequency, pain, burning, fatigue, dizziness... you name it. And no, that doesn’t mean it’s “in your head.” It means your brain and body are in constant conversation, and when your nervous system’s on high alert, your symptoms follow.

Here’s what we get into:

• What neuroplastic pain actually is and why it matters
• Why the traditional way interstitial cystitis is diagnosed and treated is flawed
• What the research says (including the Boulder back pain study)
• Why having Hunner’s lesions or “angry bladder” findings doesn’t rule out neuroplastic symptoms
• How to use the FIT criteria to evaluate your own symptoms
• Emotional patterns like perfectionism, people pleasing, and needing to fix it ASAP
• What Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET) actually look like in practice
  

Connect with Howard:

His website

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In this episode of IC You, I sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist and YouTube creator Dr. Brianne Grogan to talk about self love when your body feels like it has turned against you. We explore what it is like to live with bladder pain, urgency, frequency, pelvic floor symptoms, or prolapse and how easy it is to start seeing yourself as broken or defined by a diagnosis.

We also dig into nervous system protection, perfectionism, comparison on social media, and why healing is rarely a straight line. Dr. Bri shares simple somatic tools, mirror work, and grounding practices so you can feel safer in your body and move through flares with more curiosity and compassion instead of blame.

What You’ll Learn:• How feelings of body betrayal show up with IC, OAB, pelvic pain, prolapse, and other bladder symptoms• Why attaching your identity to a diagnosis can keep you stuck and how to gently step out of that role• The link between nervous system protection, perfectionism, and symptom flare ups• Practical self image and self love tools including movement, breath, sound, mirror work, and bone based grounding• How to view setbacks and flares as information rather than failure so you can stay compassionate and keep going

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What starts as a well-meaning attempt to “eat clean” or “cut out bladder triggers” can quickly turn into a fear-driven cycle of food avoidance, isolation, and worsening symptoms.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lauren Smith, MS, RD, LDN—a Philadelphia-based eating disorder dietitian and founder of Lauren’s Balanced Bites—to talk about the dangers of long-term dietary restriction, especially in the IC and chronic illness space.

We discuss:

• The slippery slope from symptom tracking to disordered eating

• The emotional and physical consequences of cutting out too many foods

• How restriction affects digestion, mood, and nutrient levels

• Common signs of under-fueling (even when you think you're eating “healthy”)

• Why one-size-fits-all food protocols rarely work

• How to differentiate between disordered eating and a clinical eating disorder

• The mind-body connection that impacts symptom flares and recovery

This episode is especially important for anyone who’s been told to “just follow the list,” only to find themselves stuck in a cycle of fear, confusion, and second-guessing every bite. We also talk about what reintroducing foods can look like—and why real healing requires more than just symptom management.

If you're tired of trying to do it perfectly and want a more sustainable path forward, this conversation will give you clarity, validation, and next steps.

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Have you ever wondered if mold was the reason for your chronic symptoms?
Maybe you tested positive. Maybe someone in a Facebook group swore it was the missing link. Maybe you're spending hours Googling “mold toxicity” and wondering if this is finally the answer for your bladder pain, fatigue, food sensitivities, or interstitial cystitis.

If that sounds familiar, this episode is going to hit home. I’m joined by nervous system coach Grace Secker for a deep dive into mold, medical fear spirals, and why so many people with chronic bladder issues end up wasting time, energy, and money chasing the wrong root cause. Grace shares her own story of going all in on mold protocols, what didn’t work, and the emotional work that actually moved the needle on her symptoms.

In the episode, we discuss:

• Whether mold is actually behind bladder flares, urgency, or chronic IC symptoms

• What it means when your mold test comes back positive (and why that’s not the full story)

• How fear of mold, food, or infection can fuel nervous system dysregulation

• Why "doing everything right" and still flaring doesn’t mean you’re broken

• The deeper emotional patterns Grace had to shift to feel safe and symptom-free again

CONNECT WITH GRACE:

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The Pelvic Floor and TMJ Connection Explained

If you’ve ever wondered about the connection between pelvic floor dysfunction and TMJ, this episode breaks it down clearly. Callie sits down with jaw focused physical therapist Dr. Liana Sved to explain how jaw pain, teeth grinding, TMJ issues, bladder symptoms, and pelvic health are all linked through the nervous system, fascial lines, and common movement patterns.

You will learn:
• Why TMJ and jaw pain often show up alongside pelvic floor dysfunction and bladder symptoms
• How tongue posture, tongue ties, and swallowing patterns affect both the jaw and pelvic floor
• Everyday habits that worsen TMJ and teeth grinding
• How stress, shallow breathing, and poor sleep fuel jaw tension and pelvic floor tension
• Why Botox, night guards, and splints may help short term but don’t fix the root of TMJ pain
• First steps to improve jaw function, pelvic health, and overall nervous system regulation

Perfect for anyone dealing with TMJ, pelvic floor dysfunction, teeth grinding, or bladder symptoms who wants to understand how these issues overlap and what to do next.