Long Covid Podcast

Clare shares how her son went from a viral crash at thirteen to full, active living through pacing, autonomic nervous system retraining, and Mickel Therapy. We trace the medical dead ends, the messy middle, and the simple joy‑based habits that tipped him into lasting recovery. • early sensitivity shaped by stress and frequent infections • onset at secondary school, loss of attendance and friends •...

We explore a mechanism-first approach to Long Covid & ME/CFS, shifting from labels to measurable neural and vascular bottlenecks that can be retrained. We share how to use dose, recovery, and sleep consolidation to build capacity through precise, small inputs that compound over time. • reframing diagnosis as a map to mechanisms, not a label • why cerebral perfusion and autoregulation drive sym...

We share Ashley’s journey from bedbound to rebuilding a joyful life, showing how belief, somatic work, and gentle pacing opened a path out of long COVID. The body is not the enemy; safety, connection, and consistent practice turn symptoms from threat to guidance. • fast pre‑illness life and early warning signs • collapse after pushing through infection and isolation • lack of medical answers and d...

We look squarely at the invisible load of caring for people with Long Covid and ME/CFS, why carers’ nervous systems shape recovery, and how boundaries and communication protect both sides. We share clear, humane steps that reduce burnout and build co‑regulation at home. • Defining the carer role across partners, parents and adult children • Why caring is invisible, isolating and exhausting • Bound...

I talk with author Simon Harrison about losing an active life to ME, finding a diagnosis, and rebuilding health through pacing, meditation, and a bold year seeking light in Portugal. The story is honest about setbacks and fierce about hope, with practical lessons you can apply today. • early denial and sudden onset symptoms  • shrinking life, sensory overload, fear  • self-experimentation with med...

We explore how the vagus nerve shapes recovery from Long Covid and chronic fatigue, and why building parasympathetic tone changes sleep, digestion, pain, and mood. Carissa Conrad shares clear guidance on non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation, safe pacing, and common mistakes to avoid. • what the vagus nerve does across heart, gut, immune and inflammation • why sympathetic overdrive feels normal and...

We map a clear path from medical leave to meaningful work, sharing the five-stage Career and Chronic framework and the skills that turn lived experience into authentic leadership. Practical scripts, capacity tools, and boundary strategies make work humane and sustainable. • What career means when health reshapes life • The five stages: off-ramp, on-ramp, the new, test and redesign, authentic leade...

I sit down with Lily Spechler, a registered dietitian and long hauler, to unpack why weight change in Long Covid is a metabolic story, not a willpower issue. We map a safer path: fuel first, stabilise blood sugar and blood flow, then make tiny adjustments that your body can tolerate. • Adding 10–15% above BMR to halt weight gain and calm stress signals • Glucose spikes from standing and why compre...

Welcome to a milestone episode! In the 200th episode of the Long Covid Podcast, Jackie Baxter rings in 2026 by sharing personal reflections on the journey so far and the evolution of the podcast from its origins during her own recovery from Long Covid. Jackie explores: Lessons learned from recovery, including resilience, adapting to life’s unpredictability, and the importance of grace in setbacks....

Creativity doesn’t just reflect our lives; it reshapes them when everything else feels fixed. I close the year by handing the mic to artists, writers, and makers whose work was forged in the long shadow of Long Covid & ME/CFS —and whose voices light the way forward.  If you’ve been searching for proof that small creative acts matter, this collection is your sign. If a line, chord, or colour st...

We go from theory to practice on beliefs and recovery, building a daily framework that protects mindset, reduces flare spirals, and turns small wins into lasting change. Practical tools include proof journaling, identity shifts, nervous system regulation, and curating what you let in. • building a symptom and activity proof journal • reframing setbacks as feedback not failure • identity-based habi...

We explore how belief shapes behaviour, attention, and recovery in Long Covid and ME/CFS, separating grounded acceptance from resignation and linking science to daily choices. Stories, evidence, and small wins show why consistency and self‑compassion matter more than intensity. • defining belief as evidence‑based stance that drives action • antibiotics, diabetes, and stroke rehab as clear analogie...

I'm joined today by Edmarie Guzman-Velez & Rudy Tanzi as we dig into a clinical trial of nicotinamide riboside for Long Covid, why NAD matters for cellular energy, and where the results show promise for fatigue, sleep, mood, and executive function. We share what worked, what did not, and the next steps. • Overview of NAD, mitochondria, and energy in brain and immune cells • Why Covid may...

I am joined by Katie Brennan & Andrea Henkel Burke to share Katie’s Long Covid recovery, how nervous system work unlocked capacity, and why an Olympian’s playbook of pacing, breath, joint maps and cognitive drills can fit chronic illness. The theme is small, smart inputs that prevent crashes and build a stronger baseline. • early symptoms, second infection and severe brain fog • switching from...

We trace Ivor Clark’s Long Covid recovery from a 2023 infection and UTI to a careful return to work, highlighting the routines and supports that made progress possible. Pacing, breathwork, oxygen therapy, and a rare GP who listened shaped a steady path back to confidence. • athletic past, late-pandemic infection, UTI and antibiotics complicating onset • post-exertional malaise, normal test results...

In this gentle solo episode, I invite you to explore a powerful reframe: what if your recovery journey isn’t something happening to you, but something you’re quietly guiding? Through metaphors, practical support & ideas, and  reflections, I explore how to reclaim agency in healing — even when the skies feel foggy. You’ll learn how to: Shift from passive to intentional with micro-agency and sen...

I talk with Kelly George about losing and rebuilding identity through Long Covid: the crashes that forced pacing, the relief of being believed, and the slow return of capacity that now lets her design a life she actually wants. Hope here isn’t vague—it’s built from activity management, nervous system care, and community that shows the way. • life before illness as active mum and professor  • infec...

This episode welcomes Dr. Leo Galland, Internal Medicine Specialist with over 40 years of experience working with complex conditions, which now includes Long Covid and of course ME/CFS.  In this episode: Comprehensive exploration of Long Covid's complex nature Introduction to the "Web of Long Covid" concept Insights into post-viral illness from a 40-year medical perspective Long cov...

Technology offers unprecedented access to health information, but navigating it effectively requires understanding which tools serve our recovery and when to step away from screens. Jess from TurnTo shares insights on using AI and technology tools to support recovery from conditions like Long Covid and ME/CFS. • Different technology platforms have different agendas - social media optimizes for vie...

Natalie Gould shares her journey from severe Long Covid to full recovery, revealing how nervous system regulation transformed not only her Long Covid symptoms but also pre-existing chronic conditions like psoriatic arthritis and migraines. • Life before illness included working as a CFO and living on a small farm • Initial Covid infection in July 2021 was mild but led to severe post-viral symptoms...

Recovery from Long Covid & ME/CFS involves exploring ways to move forward when you're nearly there or making progress but unsure how to reach the next level. Finding your own path is essential as there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to healing. • Jackie's recovery had 3 phases: denial & pushing through, education & strategy-building, and gentle building • Healing isn...

Dr. Robert Groysman returns to discuss the mechanisms behind Long Covid, focusing on mitochondrial dysfunction and its role in symptoms like fatigue and brain fog. • Dr. Groysman identifies six major mechanisms in Long Covid: dysautonomia, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, endothelial dysfunction, mast cell activation syndrome, and hormone imbalance • Most Long Covid patients experience mu...

**Content warning for discussion of suicidal thoughts from around 8:45 for 2 minutes** Jamie shares her powerful journey from being bedbound with Long Covid to full recovery, offering hope and practical insights into the healing process. • Initially experiencing tachycardia, PoTS, extreme fatigue, and sensitivities to light and sound • Deteriorating to the point of being bedbound and unable to car...

Dr. Kendal Stewart shares his unique perspective on Long Covid through his background as a surgeon with training in functional medicine, neurosurgery, and cell biology. His approach examines the body as an integrated system rather than separating it into isolated specialties. • Complex conditions like Long Covid require a holistic view of the body as an interconnected system • Western medicine oft...

Dr. Henry Mahncke and Dr. Gitendra Uswatte share groundbreaking research on using brain plasticity principles to treat Long Covid brain fog through a comprehensive approach combining cognitive processing speed training, real-world skill practice, and personalized cognitive rehabilitation strategies. • Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change its structure and function through learning...