Talking Head Pain

The first step to proper treatment is getting a diagnosis. In this audio guide, we explore the importance of a proper diagnosis, how to get diagnosed, the causes and triggers of headache, and barriers to health care.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected].

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To sign up to receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and the latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living with migraine as a teenager can be complicated. You’re often misunderstood, teachers wonder if you’re lazy, fellow students question accommodations. In this episode, meet Ellie Donner-Klein, a young professional whose own experience dealing with migraine and getting a proper diagnosis as a teen propelled her to now advocate on behalf of others navigating life with migraine.

Some highlights in this episode:

2:03: During her job interview, Ellie shared that she has chronic migraine and found support

3:05: Ellie describes her journey from diagnosed with migraine at 15 years old to advocating

4:09: The challenges facing a migraine advocate

5:49: Our host Joe is conducting this interview with migraine

6:25: Ellie describes her worst migraine

8:11: As a teenager, Ellie saw 10 doctors before being properly diagnosed

9:28: Ellie shares the polarization in school of some people understanding what she was going through while others didn’t

11:47: Ellie’s advice for navigating student life with migraine

12:38: Migraine is a medical condition and people should be afforded accommodations like any other chronic medical condition, says Dr. Peter McAllister, Director of the New England Center for Neurology

14:22: Defining functional disability

15:19: Ellie shares how migraine affects her Jewish faith and relationships

19:21: “I am healing the world by talking publicly about my journey,” says Ellie

21:24: Ellie describes systemic and medical racism

23:45: Dr. McAllister defines chronic versus episodic migraine

25:18: Ways to find Ellie on social media

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the first audio guide for Talking Head Pain. In this guide, learn about the differences between headaches and migraine, as well as the important first steps to take when starting your migraine treatment journey. Symptoms of migraine, triggers, and helpful tips for keeping a migraine diary are also discussed.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected].

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To sign up to receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and the latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you think of migraine many of us don’t think of or see Black men. In this episode, meet Qasim Amin Nathari, who takes us on his migraine journey while getting deep about the intersections of race, masculinity, and faith when it comes to managing migraine.

“It's very rare that I see or hear Black men in the space. And I don't know if that's just the thing about the Black man and we don't want to talk about our pain and we have to be strong and tough, but me, I'm going to talk about it,” says Qasim. “I don't buy into the stigma that it makes you any less of a man or makes you any weaker.”

Some highlights in this episode:

1:28: “For me a good day is when I'm at least able to function enough to get my normal day-to-day routine done,” says Qasim

2:13: Qasim describes his worst migraine attack

4:24: The emergency room “is no place for a person with migraine disease,” says Dr. Peter McAlister

7:50: How Qasim balances advocacy with the need to be treated in the moment

9:22: The importance of having a two-way conversation with your doctor

10:05: The stigma facing a Black man with migraine

12:20: Qasim discusses why he started a hashtag on social media, #BlackMenHaveMigraineToo

12:38: Qasim befriends “The Migraine Diva”

14:19: “I'd never seen a Black person or a person of color in a migraine commercial,” says Qasim

16:18: Qasim describes being first diagnosed

18:57: Qasim talks about the intersection of migraine with his faith

21:10: How Qasim navigates spiritual practices like fasting with migraine

23:13: Dr. McAlister discusses the science behind why certain things like fasting could potentially be a migraine trigger

26:52: Qasim’s podcast "From All Aspects with Qasim Amin Nathari”

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Migraine as a child. Migraine on vacation. Migraine at work. Whatever their age and wherever they are, people around the world struggle with migraine. In this episode, we hear from a leading migraine advocate who shares his journey and how he now helps people overcome the stigma of migraine.

“I would get these periods I sort of called them like a honeymoon response, where you're so hopeful that it works that it actually does for a period of time,” says Carl Cincinnato, Executive Director of Migraine at Work and co-host for the Migraine World Summit. “But then you kind of run out of “hope-ium.” And all of a sudden you go back to your baseline of regular attacks.”

Some highlights in this episode:

:52: Listener feedback

2:28: Carl talks about having a tension headache when he contracted COVID

3:37: Joe’s experience getting a headache after receiving a booster shot

5:03: Carl describes the first sign of migraine when he was playing sports

6:14: Migraine forced Carl to make excuses as he dealt with isolation, pain, and depression

7:06: Carl’s journey spending money and seeing specialists to deal with his migraine

8:09: Carl turns to “hope-ium” to fight back against migraine

8:17: Migraine is “like a form of torture” for Carl

9:24: Carl found support but from other people with migraine

10:30: Carl describes his depression dealing with chronic migraine

1151: What exactly is “hope-ium”

12:43: Carl’s goal of finding the healthiest version of himself

14:07: Carl describes his first migraine attack before he was 10 years old

14:48: The turning point for Carl came during a disastrous holiday with his partner

15:17: Migraine forced Carl to leave his job

15:56: The goal at the Migraine World Summit

17:37: A personal lesson for Carl

18:37: A major challenge is dealing with the stigma of migraine, especially at work

20:42: Advocacy at work in the migraine community

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although it’s been framed as a “middle-aged white woman’s disease,” migraine doesn’t discriminate; it affects one in seven people across all genders and race. But the right diagnosis is often more difficult to find for people in marginalized communities.

In the second of a two-part episode, Sarah Shaw and her doctor Courtney White, MD, discuss the need to educate the medical profession, especially in Black, Brown, and low-income communities, on the many symptoms of migraine so they can better serve patients in the BIPOC and LGBTQA+ communities.

Some highlights in this episode:

Contact Our Hosts

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

Sarah Shaw, BIPOC Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on our previous episodes on your favorite podcast channel or at Talking Head Pain.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As if migraine isn’t tough enough, imagine being a person in a marginalized community who must convince their doctor that their symptoms are real? Sarah Shaw went through six doctors before finding Courtney White, MD, who not only advocates for migraine patients but is one herself.

In the first of a two-part episode, Sarah and Dr. White discuss their migraine journeys, racial disparities in treatment, respect of the patient, and using social media to educate the BIPOC and LGBTQA+ communities.

“I am a neurologist and a headache specialist. I am also someone who does have migraine disease,” says Dr. White. “And I've gone through the experience of having difficulty finding a physician that would diagnose me and then treat me appropriately.”

Among the highlights in this episode:

Contact Our Hosts

Joe Coe, Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF: [email protected]

Sarah Shaw, BIPOC Patient Advocate, Community Outreach Manager: [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to [email protected]

Catch up on our previous episodes on your favorite podcast channel or at Talking Head Pain.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this EXTRA episode, host Joe Coe welcomes renowned migraine specialist, author and podcast host Dr. Lindsay Weitzel. Lindsay describes her worst migraine attack, strategies for coping with migraine attacks and minimizing their severity, and how living with migraine affects family dynamics.

“You find yourself saying, ‘oh my God, I’m going to die, I’m going to die.’ You need to turn that around because your thoughts are nerve signals just like your pain,” says Dr. Lindsay Weitzel.

Among the highlights in this episode:

3:24 – Lindsay describes her worst migraine episode in graphic detail

6:51 – How Lindsay helps other migraine patients

8:49 – Useful tips for getting through migraine attacks when your kids are part of the equation

14:47 – Lindsay explains why one particular episode of her podcast “Heads Up” was so popular

16:10 – Joe asks Linsday to explain how people can “create their mortar”

17:22 – “Our thoughts are like nerve signals”

18:33 – More tips for single parents dealing with migraine

Contact Our Host

Joe Coe – Director, Education and Digital Strategy at GHLF. [email protected]

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself to [email protected]

Catch up on our previous season of Talking Head Pain

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Coe, Host of Talking Head Pain, speaks with Dreama who has been battling migraine for decades.

Dreama speaks about the difficulties of managing migraine while providing for her family as a housekeeper. 

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sean McEvoy joins Joe Coe, host of Talking Head Pain, to smash stereotypes surrounding migraine.

To receive headache/migraine related resources, giveaways, and latest episode releases, text the word "Headache" to 1-845-285-1563 to sign up.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.