The Pain Free Athlete Podcast

In this episode of The Painfree Athlete Podcast , Dana Jones sits down with Daniel Esposito, former NFL player, masters track gold medalist, and founder of the Undo Method. Daniel shares the shocking health challenges he faced after football, including chronic pain, fibromyalgia, inflammation, and the possibility of multiple joint replacements before age 50. He explains how his recovery journey le...

In this episode of the Pain-Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones is joined by Lida Johnson — certified health coach, nutritionist, personal trainer, behavioral change specialist, pre-diabetes lifestyle coach, and endurance athlete extraordinaire. Lida's journey didn't begin in a gym or on a track. It began with leaving a toxic family situation at 18 and finding herself on the Appalachian...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones welcomes back Esther Gokhale, founder of the Gokhale Method, for a deep dive into one of the most common (and least understood) issues athletes face: pelvic floor dysfunction. Most of us have heard "do your Kegels," but Esther explains why that advice misses the root cause entirely. The real issue isn't muscular — it&#...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana sits down with Micki Woodford, founder of MASE Fitness in Jacksonville, Florida. Micki is an NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Yoga Instructor, Paddleboard Instructor, and endurance athlete with a master's in exercise science from Liberty University. Her studio is located inside St. Jo...

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with David Jarvis, a former British Army communications engineer, Invictus Games gold medalist, keynote speaker, and community champion. David opens up about being medically discharged after more than two decades of service, the identity loss that followed, and the difficult transition back to civilian life. He also shares the...

In this episode of  The Pain Free Athlete Podcast , Dana Jones talks with Kelley Tenny, Galloway program director, pacer, educator, and breast cancer survivor, about how the run-walk method has helped her stay active, injury-free, and mentally strong through every season of life. Kelley shares how she first discovered the Galloway Method while pregnant, why it changed her relationship with running...

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with Alexia Clonda, former world-class squash athlete and high-performance coach, to explore the connection between breath, mindset, and resilience. Alexia shares her remarkable journey from severe asthma and health challenges to competing at the highest levels of sport, and how those experiences shaped her coaching philosophy....

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with Lauren Turner, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker, mental performance coach, former collegiate athlete, and founder of The Turner Practice. Lauren shares powerful insight into the mental and emotional side of injury recovery, chronic pain, athlete identity, and the importance of listening to your body before pain gets w...

In this episode of  The Pain Free Athlete Podcast , Dana Jones speaks with former NBA All-Star James Donaldson about the turning points that shaped his life on and off the court. James shares how a career-ending injury, emergency heart surgeries, major personal losses, and a mental health crisis led him to become a powerful advocate for suicide prevention and emotional honesty. They discuss the pr...

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with Esther Gokhale, leading expert in posture and natural movement, creator of the Gokhale Method, and bestselling author of  Eight Steps to a Pain-Free Back . Esther shares the powerful personal story that led her to study pain-free living after struggling with severe back pain, surgery, and years of searching for answers. We...

In this episode of  The Pain Free Athlete , Dana Jones sits down with Shamekka Marty, founder of Beyond the Game Health, to talk about the hidden side of athlete wellness, health equity, and what happens when the game ends but the body still carries the cost. Shamekka shares her personal journey living with lupus and multiple autoimmune conditions, her experience as a patient advocate, and how tho...

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete, Dana Jones talks with Alexa Ryan, a functional medicine practitioner, neurotherapist, clinical nutritionist, and founder of It Comes Naturally, about what it really means to heal from the root. Alexa shares her personal story of dealing with migraines, nervous system overstimulation, and inflammation, and how those struggles pushed her to become her own pa...

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete, Dana Jones talks with Vernon P. Davis Jr., health educator, author, speaker, and founder of Morsel Medicine, about how a major health scare changed his life and led him to create practical nutrition tools for healthier living. Vernon shares how poor habits, emotional eating, and sugary drinks contributed to his type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and how he was abl...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with licensed professional counselor, EMDR therapist, and neurofeedback provider Eileen Borski to explore the powerful connection between the brain, body, and performance. Eileen shares how her work helps athletes and high performers reduce stress, improve focus, and support recovery by addressing the nervous system at its root...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones welcomes Dr. Tawny Kross, a physical therapist and pain and wellness coach, for an in-depth conversation on the integration of psychology into physical therapy. Together, they explore how understanding pain from a psychological perspective can transform treatment, the impact of stress on pain management, and how pain perception evol...

Replay ep 89: Run Smarter, Stay Stronger – Injury Prevention & the Mind-Body Connection with Denise Smith What if the key to running stronger, longer, and pain-free had less to do with mileage—and more to do with how you move? In this replay episode, I sit down with physical therapist and movement expert Denise Smith to break down what most athletes are missing when it comes to performance and...

In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana is joined again by longtime mind-body and women’s health expert Jennifer More, creator of The Dolphin Method and founder of the Power of the Pause menopause community on Facebook. They dive into how hormonal shifts in perimenopause and menopause impact the nervous system, pain perception, and everyday symptoms like anxiety, hip pain, sleep iss...

In this insightful interview, Dr. Trevor Turner shares his journey from trauma surgery to regenerative orthopedics, emphasizing innovative treatments like PRP and laser therapy. Discover how personalized, minimally invasive approaches are transforming musculoskeletal care and empowering patients to regain mobility and avoid surgery. Dr Trevor’s Bio: Dr. Trevor Turner is a nationally recognized phy...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Tracy Kasper, founder of One Small Step Walks. Tracy shares her personal health journey, including her experiences with an autoimmune disease and the dietary changes that helped her regain control of her health. The conversation explores the importance of community in movement, the benefits of walking, and how to create...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Seren Jones, co-founder of the Black Swimming Association (BSA). They discuss the importance of water safety, the differences between swimming and water safety education, and the challenges faced by Black and minority communities in accessing swimming resources. Seren shares insights on the demographics most at risk for...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with registered dietitian Stephanie Natchik about the critical role of nutrition in athletic performance. They discuss the evolution of athlete nutrition awareness, the impact of chronic stress on nutritional needs, and the importance of protein and energy availability for athletes. Stephanie shares practical steps for balanc...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones interviews Dr. Brett Hill, a chiropractor and entrepreneur who specializes in posture, movement, and brain health. Dr. Hill shares his journey from a small chiropractic practice to creating an online program that helps individuals improve their posture and overall health. The conversation covers common posture faults, their impact o...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Dr. Erin Brunelle, a mind-body physical therapist and pain recovery coach. They explore the integration of emotional awareness in physical therapy, the importance of safety in healing, and how understanding emotions as bodily sensations can aid in pain recovery. Dr. Brunelle shares her journey into mind-body therapy, emp...

About Jim: James P. Owen is an 85-year-old best-selling author, documentary film producer and recovering couch potato. His book, Just Move! A New Approach to Fitness After 50 , was published in 2017 by National Geographic, and was named one of the year’s top five books on healthy aging by The Wall Street Journal.  Two of his documentary films,  The Art of Aging Well and SuperAgers: Growing Old, Li...

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones interviews Philip Kupins, CEO of the Pickle Juice Company. They discuss the unique properties of pickle juice that make it effective in preventing muscle cramps, the neurological basis of cramping, and the real-life impact of the product on athletes. Philip shares stories of how pickle juice has changed lives, the science behind its...