Unpacking Pain

Why do two people with the same injury have completely different pain journeys - and what does a zip code have to do with it?

Today we dig into the often-overlooked social side of persistent pain: the way income, work conditions, food access, relationships, and even cultural expectations can ramp pain up or help dial it down.

Dr. Megan and Holly explore how:

What if the pain you feel long after an injury has “healed” isn’t a sign that your body is broken, but that your nervous system is stuck in protection mode?

Dr. Megan and Holly break down what’s happening in the brain and body when pain lingers, scans look “normal,” and daily life starts to shrink. They explore how chronic pain and emotions are tightly linked, and why anxiety, depression, shame, and even hyper-empathy so often trave...

Why does chronic pain spread from one area of your body to another? And why does it often feel worse at night when you're trying to sleep?

When pain persists for months or years, your nervous system doesn't just stay the same - it changes. Your nerves lose their protective coating, your spinal cord becomes more sensitized, and your brain actually develops structural changes that keep you locked in a cycle of protection and threat de...

What happens when a pain researcher teams up with someone who’s lived with chronic pain for decades?

In this bonus conversation, meet the voices behind Unpacking Pain. Dr. Megan Steele, a physical therapist and pain science researcher, explains why evidence-based guidance is still hard to find and what the data actually says. Holly Osborne shares the lived experience side - what helped, what didn’t, and how to keep going when progre...

Why does a system designed to protect us sometimes keep the alarm blaring long after the danger has passed?

Chronic pain isn’t just about damaged tissue. Dr. Megan and Holly break down how the body’s warning system can stay on high alert and why understanding the biopsychosocial model - biology, psychology, and social context - can change the way you navigate persistent pain. You’ll hear clear examples, practical strategies, and a f...

What if chronic pain isn’t only a body problem, but a biology–psychology–social puzzle you can learn to solve?

Meet your guides: Dr. Megan Steele, a physical therapist and pain science researcher, and Holly, a long‑time pain experiencer with a thousand practical questions. Together, they break persistent pain into clear, human terms. You’ll hear candid stories, simple explanations of what’s happening in your brain and body, and smal...