The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast

Hi, all, and welcome back to the NCS Podcast. It's been a little while since I've released a new episode. The past few months have been something of a whirlwind, beginning with a severe kidney infection in my transplanted kidney at the start of 2026. Interestingly, the infection occurred the day after my third ketamine treatment. While the ketamine itself was not responsible for the infection, the...

After recording my last episode on session two, something shifted in a way I didn’t expect. In this episode, I share what happened during the integration that followed, the moment my “scared self” surfaced, the tension that rose between Kyle and me, and what it felt like to finally be held in the middle of grief I’ve carried for years. I talk openly about fear, loss, and the layers of pain connect...

In this second installment of my ketamine-assisted therapy series, I walk listeners through what my second session felt like from the moments leading up to the infusion to the psychological and emotional “downloads” that emerged once the ketamine took effect. I begin by reflecting on how this session differed from my first, including subtle but meaningful changes in the pre-session environment and...

In this episode, I share my experience from the first session of my ketamine-assisted therapy journey. I walk listeners through what the session looked like from a nervous-system and emotional perspective—what surprised me, what felt challenging, and what I noticed in the hours and days that followed. This conversation is rooted in honest reflection and gentle processing, offering insight into wha...

In this episode, I introduce a new mini-series within The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast focused on ketamine-assisted therapy and its role in navigating medical trauma, chronic illness, and the emotional weight of long-term health journeys. I share why I chose to explore this modality, what led me to begin my own therapeutic process, my goals with this therapy, and what listeners can expect throughou...

I’m excited to continue sharing stories as part of our Caretaker Series, a space dedicated to expanding our understanding of the vital role social support systems play throughout the NCS journey. In this episode, you’ll hear from Shay and Clancey as they share their lived experiences navigating the complex and often evolving dynamics of caregiving and support. Their conversation offers valuable in...

In this episode, we kick off our Caretaker Series, which a true passion project created to better support those who take care of us. You’ll hear Heather and Danny’s story as they share how they worked to understand what was medically happening, how they navigated their NCS journey, and what helped them along the way. They also offer meaningful insights into what supported them both as a couple and...

In this episode, I offer a brief introduction to what you can expect this season, along with heartfelt gratitude to those who have been here since the very beginning, and to those who found their way here after receiving a difficult, life-altering diagnosis. I truly wish you all the very best as you navigate this journey. I’m deeply grateful to be able to curate and share this information with you...

Happy one-year kidney autotransplant anniversary to me! It’s been a whirlwind of a year, and I wanted to take some time to share an honest update: the good, the hard, the healing, and the ongoing. In this episode, I reflect on what recovery has really looked like, what I’ve learned about my body, resilience, vulnerability, and community, and how this experience has reshaped my perspective on healt...

Hi, NCS friends! In this episode, I’m sharing my experience with developing an epigastric hernia after my kidney autotransplant. My hope is that this helps normalize the journey for those of you who may need additional surgeries after treating your NCS. I go into more detail about: When I first noticed the hernia How I made the decision to move forward with surgery The conversations I wish I had w...

Hi, my NCS besties! In this episode, I’m sharing a side-by-side look at my best and worst in-patient experiences throughout my Nutcracker Syndrome medical journey. Ten months after my kidney autotransplant, I underwent a hernia repair surgery, which is an issue that developed as a result of my open-abdominal AT. To be clear, this was in no way due to any error by the incredible team at UWHealth in...

Welcome back! It's been a few month hiatus from a new recording as I have been busy with work + starting a new company, The COPE Center , which is short for The C enter for O ptimal P sychological E ducation in Injury & Rehabilitation. Give the site a visit + please know I have not forgotten about you all; I just needed some time to get my feet back under me! Now, for this episode, recorded on...

Buckle up and grab your popcorn! I am so stoked for this episode of the NCS podcast because we have an absolutely incredible guest joining us—a true advocate, pioneer, and fellow Nutcracker Syndrome patient. In this episode, Sheri Spain shares what it was like in the early days of getting diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome, navigating a medical world that barely recognized it, and fighting for ans...

Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, we’re learning from one of our own—Kat—as she shares key insights from her personal journey, including: Her second IVUS experience : what it was like being awake vs. fully sedated, the pros and cons of each approach, and the benefits of seeking a second opinion from Dr. Peter Stratil Why renal angioplasty can be a viable treatment option for NCS th...

Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful and personal story from one of our own—Lilly. She shares her journey living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) alongside vascular compressions—specifically May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS) and Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS). MCAS is a complex and often misunderstood condition, and for many in our community, it presents as a...

In this episode of the NCS Podcast, I'm joined by guest Kat Weissner to discuss her experience with the Marcaine test at UCHealth. We explore what the Marcaine test is, why someone might undergo this procedure, what to expect during the process, and important questions to ask your doctor to help ensure the test is effective for you. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, and I hope it brin...

This episode is the third and final installment of our three-part series focused on mental game insights. In this episode, I take a deeper dive into my own mental health journey, specifically through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy—the primary modality that has helped me navigate the psychological challenges of living with a medical diagnosis. I’m also thrilled to introduce Dr. B...

This episode is part two of a three-part series focused on mental game insights. In it, I share practical interventions to help you mentally navigate the often-overwhelming experience of living with vascular compressions. The specific techniques I discuss include: Goal-Setting (2:55) Self-Talk (16:20) Relaxation (28:46) Imagery/Visualization (45:48) To support your mental journey, here are some he...

This episode kicks off a three-part series focused on mental game insights. As a psychology professor, I’m setting the stage to help normalize your mental health journey through two psychological models of injury: the Three-Phase Model of Injury and the Stress-Injury Model. I’ve adapted these frameworks to relate specifically to our experiences with vascular compression. The Three-Phase Model of I...

Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, I share the list of medications that helped me get to the finish line, which was my kidney autotransplant. Below is the list of medications for those that need help with spelling (like myself!) along with the dosages prescribed to me. While I offer the list below, I provide a lot more detail in this episode regarding these medications, and how they...

Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, much like episode 14 where I explored the potential link between vascular compressions and hormone health, I’m taking a deeper dive into how these compressions might also impact our dental health. Personally, when my vascular symptoms first began—before we even knew they were vascular-related—I started to notice a decline in my dental health as wel...

Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! I’m super excited to share this episode with you—it features our very first guest on the show: Tracey Rupp, a Registered Dietitian who specializes in kidney health. And, I must say, you’re going to want to listen all the way through, because this episode is packed with valuable, practical information that I think will help all of us navigate the chaos of Nutcracker...

Welcome back to the NCS podcast! This episode wasn't originally on the docket but after my hormone specialist appointment yesterday where we spoke more intimately about the relationship between hormones and endovascular, I felt it was a pertinent topic to discuss with you all. As a friendly reminder, nothing on this show, including this episode, is providing you with medical advice. Rather, I simp...

Welcome back to the NCS podcast. In this episode, I offer a very real + very justifiably feral reaction to some of my frustrations with radiologists as I have navigated the NCS landscape. I share my most recent run-ins with vague radiology report readings & overall want to start the conversation given that many others have reached out--in my social media ramblings--with similar frustrations. A...

Welcome back to the NCS podcast! I was stoked to get this episode request as it's such an important topic, which is why it's the longest episode yet. I not only share my lived experience with social support through my NCS process in this episode, but I also go full professor mode sharing the research regarding social support as it pertains to "injury", which, in this case, regards being diagnosed...