Spondycast

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.

Dr. Christina Chambers, a leading expert in prenatal and lactation research, discusses how MotherToBaby studies help evaluate the safety of medications and treatments - like those used for spondyloarthritis - during pregnancy, and how patients can get involved in this vital research.

In this special 100th episode, Spondycast host Jill Miller becomes the guest, sharing her personal journey with spondyloarthritis, favorite moments from the show, and her vision for an empowered patient community.

Gwen Robinson, RNS Historian Supervisor & Infusion Nurse Specialist, shares valuable insights on how nurses support SpA patients, improve communication, and strengthen the patient-care team relationship.

Robert Felix, a senior information specialist at MotherToBaby California, discusses MTB's evidence-based information about medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Patricia Ewa Grabarek, PhD, and Katina Brynn Sawyer, PhD, co-founders of Workr Beeing and authors of the book “Leading for Wellness”, discuss strategies for navigating the workplace while managing a chronic illness.