Spondycast

Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) Laurane Chemenda, RWP, AIP Coach returns to Spondycast to debunk common myths about functional nutrition—such as supplement overload and miracle diets—while explaining how integrative, evidence-based nutrition can complement conventional rheumatology care and empower people with spondyloarthritis to take charge of their health.

Rheumatologist Dr. Marina Magrey discusses her latest research on biologic DMARD dose tapering in axial spondyloarthritis, outlining when it may be appropriate, its risks and benefits, and key considerations for patients.

Dr. Michael Lucke discusses the important connection between inflammation and cardiovascular health as he breaks down why people with PsA face higher risks, what warning signs to look for, and how screenings, treatments, and lifestyle steps can protect the heart.

Dr. Heidi Prather, Founder of the HSS Lifestyle Medicine Program, shares how lifestyle medicine, through movement, sleep, stress management, and nutrition, can help people with spondyloarthritis reduce pain, improve function, and enhance their overall well-being.

Laurane Chemenda, Laurane Chemenda, RWP, AIP Coach, and a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP), shares her personal and professional journey with ankylosing spondylitis and how nutrition, gut health, and sustainable lifestyle changes can support whole-body healing and complement conventional care.

David Smith, FRCms, FR, FRA, LMT, founder of Manta Massage, discusses how conscious bodywork and mobility training can help people with chronic conditions like spondyloarthritis reconnect with their bodies, reduce pain, and restore movement.

This episode explores the importance of safe, supportive spaces for men living with chronic pain, as guests Sarah Gehrig and Ryan Drozd share their personal journeys, the creation of the US Pain Foundation’s Pain Connection Men’s Support Group, and how community can foster vulnerability, healing, and empowerment.

AgingNext CEO Abigail Pascua shares how compassionate guidance, proactive planning, and accessible resources empower older adults, caregivers, and individuals with chronic conditions to live well, age well, and stay connected, regardless of where they call home.

In Part 2, Dr. Antonia Repollet explores how chronic stress impacts the gut-brain axis and inflammation in spondyloarthritis, and shares practical, evidence-based mind-body therapies, like clinical hypnosis and ACT, to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Dr. Antonia Repollet explores how the gut-brain connection, trauma, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) shape the experience of chronic pain and offers practical strategies to help people with spondyloarthritis build resilience and regain control.

Kyle Settles, an educator and father living with spondylitis, shares his journey of advocating for his health, balancing fatherhood and chronic illness, and cultivating joy, empathy, and resilience while navigating life in rural Alaska.

In Part 2 of her conversation, Jenifer Forbes, former Team USA rower, reflects on life after elite rowing, sharing how she navigates spondyloarthritis, comorbidities, and personal transformation with resilience, self-compassion, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Jenifer Forbes, former Team USA rower, talks about her difficult journey to a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis and how it impacted her athletic career.

Gastroenterologists Drs. Allen Lee, MD and Prashant Singh, MD discuss how specific dietary choices can shape the gut microbiome and, in turn, influence inflammation in people living with spondyloarthritis.

Eileen Filliben, JD/MBA, shares how Pain Reprocessing Therapy helped transform her health, and how it may help people with spondyloarthritis change the way their brain responds to pain.

Acupuncturist and integrative health expert, Brian Bowen, LAc, CMT, PAS, CES, CPT, CHPC, Power MBA, discusses Dao Needle Therapy and how it may benefit individuals with chronic pain.

Acupuncturist and integrative health expert Brian Bowen, LAc, CMT, PAS, CES, CPT, CHPC, Power MBA, shares how combining acupuncture, massage therapy, and corrective exercise can help manage chronic musculoskeletal pain—including conditions like spondyloarthritis—through a holistic and personalized approach.

Dr. Tristan Huie, pulmonologist and expert in interstitial lung disease, explains how spondyloarthritis can impact lung function, what symptoms to watch for, and how early detection, treatment, and multidisciplinary care can help protect respiratory health.

Lousin Mehrabi, a globally recognized negotiation expert, shares how the principles of negotiation, emotional intelligence, and inner peace can empower people, especially those with chronic illness, to advocate for their needs, build resilience, and navigate life’s challenges confidently.