Heads Up

In this inspiring episode of Heads Up podcast, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by Amy Mowbray and Lily Earle, two women who transformed their lives after years of living with chronic migraine and debilitating symptoms. Together, they share their personal recovery journeys and discuss how brain training, pain reprocessing therapy, somatic tracking and self-compassion helped them break free from cy...

What does it take to kayak the entire British coastline solo while your partner manages chronic migraine from a motorhome on shore? In this first episode of series eight of Heads Up, Dr Katy Munro sits down with Nicola and Dominic Gribbin for an honest and inspiring conversation that covers far more than adventure. Nicola has lived with migraine since childhood, from episodic attacks during school...

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast What happens when cluster headache and pregnancy collide? In this episode, Daisy joins our host Dr Katy Munro to talk honestly about managing attacks during pregnancy and with a toddler, navigating medication decisions, and the importance of specialist support for anyone planning a family. For more information visit: National Migraine Centre: www.nationalmigrain...

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Cluster headache can affect every part of a person's life, including their rights at work. In this episode, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by Mike Smalley who has had Cluster Headache since the age of 14. Drawing on his experience as a former union representative, Mike discusses what the Equality Act 2010 means for cluster headache patients as this is recognis...

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Isobel West has lived with cluster headache since the age of fifteen. Misdiagnosed for years and left to advocate for herself, she eventually found her way to the correct diagnosis at twenty-one. Now she is channeling that experience into a PhD at Kings College London, investigating the brain mechanisms behind the condition through studying human post-mortem bra...

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast What happens in the brain during a cluster headache attack? In this episode, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by Dr Phil Holland, a leading headache neuroscientist and previous guest expert on the podcast, to dig into the science behind one of the most extreme pain events the human body can experience. They explore why attacks follow such striking seasonal and d...

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Frederick was eleven when diagnosed with cluster headache. Now seventeen and heading to university, they join our host Dr Katy Munro alongside their mum Rachael, OUCH's Officer for Children and Young People, to talk about growing up with one of the most painful conditions known to medicine, sharing tips on how they manage and information about support for famili...

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Alexander was two and a half years old when the attacks began. In this episode, he and his mum, Mel, join our host and a headache specialist, Dr Katy Munro, to share what it is like to be a child with cluster headache, from the experience of the excruciating attacks and the fight for diagnosis to navigating treatment and family life. A rare and important convers...

Spotlight Series | Heads Up Podcast Cluster headache has been called the most painful condition known to medicine. Comedian and actor Chris Addison, known for The Thick of It and In the Loop, knows that firsthand. In this episode, he joins our host Dr Katy Munro, Senior GP Headache Specialist at the National Migraine Centre, to share his experience of living with cluster headache. This is the firs...

In our final Heads Up episode of the year, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by GP headache specialist Dr Cyriac Athappilly and Dr Tina Peers, an expert in mast cell activation syndrome, to explore the fascinating and often under‑recognised connection between MCAS and migraine. ​ Together, they unpack how mast cell activity can influence migraine triggers, discuss the shared symptoms that can compl...

Join headache specialist Dr Katy Munro for part two of this discussion exploring the connections between endometriosis, adenomyosis, and migraine. In this episode, Dr Munro speaks with patient advocate and campaigner Victoria Hardy, who shares her personal journey of living with these conditions. Her story offers an honest account of the challenges of diagnosis, the impact on daily life, and the i...

Join headache specialist Dr Katy Munro as she hosts a lively conversation with Dr Aziza Sesay from  Talks with Dr. Sesay . This episode unpacks the complex connections that migraine has with endometriosis and adenomyosis, conditions that affect women and which are widely misunderstood and overlooked. Discover how these conditions intertwine, why greater awareness matters, and practical insights to...

Join Dr Katy Munro, senior GP headache specialist and host of Heads Up, as she welcomes Dr Salwa Kamourieh, consultant neurologist at University College London Hospitals. In this episode, they review the latest advances in neuromodulation treatments for migraine, both non-invasive and invasive including Cefaly, STMS, Nerivio and other innovative devices. Dr Munro and Dr Kamourieh unpack the eviden...

In this episode, host headache specialist Dr Katy Munro is joined by Dr Francesca Puledda, consultant neurologist and researcher with a special interest in migraine and complex visual symptoms. Together, they explore what happens in the brain during aura, how to recognise and understand visual snow syndrome, and why light sensitivity can be such a challenging symptom for people living with migrain...

In this first episode of series six of Heads Up podcast, our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by nutritionist Emma Ellice-Flint , a qualified nutritionist with a special interest in migraine and women's health. Together, they explore the complex relationship between migraine, gut health, and diet—covering everything from common food triggers to allergies, nutritional myths, and practical advice for ma...

In this special bonus episode, host Dr Katy Munro is joined by National Migraine Centre's  operations director Charlotte Burr, chief executive Dan Tickle, and clinical & communications director Swati Raina, the producer of Heads Up. Together, we reflect on the podcast's six-year journey and the growth of the charity behind it. We share insights into the clinical services available for people livin...

Heads Up – Series 5 Finale Episode In this extended and festive final episode, Dr Katy Munro, GP and Headache Specialist, explores the crucial role pharmacists play in the migraine and headache treatment journey.   First Half: Our host Dr Katy Munro is joined by experienced prescribing pharmacists David Kelly and Nadeem Shah from North England. They share their insights into supporting people with...

In part two of our ADHD and migraine series, Dr Katy Munro speaks with Dr Gilly Kahn, a clinical psychologist and ADHD advocate, who shares her personal journey and professional insights. As a therapist, writer, and mother, Dr Kahn brings a unique perspective on navigating life with ADHD, both for herself and her clients. This episode offers a heartfelt look at the experiences of those with ADHD a...

In this episode, Headache Specialist Dr Katy Munro speaks with Dr Helen Read, a former NHS Consultant Psychiatrist and ADHD specialist with over 30 years of experience. Dr Read shares her professional insights from years in the NHS and her recent journey with her own ADHD diagnosis. As a mother of two sons with ADHD and autism, she brings a deeply personal perspective to the challenges of navigati...

New podcast episode is out now! Our host and headache specialist Dr Katy Munro speaks with Dr Deborah Kerr, a GP and fellow headache specialist, and Dr Bernadette Hard, to explore their personal experiences with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. Dr Hard, a GP and trustee of the CSF Leak Association, shares her inspiring recovery journey and how she's channelling her experience into action by taking...

It's the Cluster Headache Awareness Day, and Heads Up Podacst is back with a new episode. Tune in to this latest episode where our host Headache Specialist Dr Katy Munro, sits down with consultant neurologist and headache expert Dr Nick Silver from the Walton Centre UK. In this informative discussion, Dr Silver sheds light on the often misunderstood condition of cluster headaches. Delving into the...

Heads Up Podcast brings to you Becky's story: Listen to the raw and unfiltered experience of someone living with cluster headaches. They share the daily challenges and profound impact this condition has on their life. Join us for a brief yet powerful insight into the reality of living with cluster headaches, giving voice to the struggles and hardships faced by those affected. Tune in for a moving...

Delve into the intricate world of migraine science with Dr Katy Munro, Headache Specialist, and her esteemed guest, Dr Phil Holland, Reader in Neuroscience at King's College London. In this episode 'Migraine Science: What's Happening in the Brain? they embark on a fascinating journey through the complexities of migraine brain chemistry and pathways. From exploring the intersections of migraine wit...

In this episode of Heads Up podcast, we unravel the connection between migraine and facial pain, where migraine can often manifest as debilitating facial discomfort. Join our host, Dr Katy Munro, a leading Headache Specialist, as she engages in a captivating conversation with the renowned Professor Tara Renton, an expert in oral surgery. Professor Renton, based at Kings College London and serving...

Join us on this special episode of the Heads Up Podcast as we mark Migraine Awareness Week. In a heartfelt tribute to those who battle migraines, we spotlight three remarkable women and their journeys of resilience. Tune in and lend your support to #MigraineVoices, because together, we can shed light on the silent pain that so many endure. Visit the National Migraine Centre's website and learn mor...