In this powerful conversation, Leigh speaks with Doc Malik, a former orthopaedic surgeon whose journey from a working-class upbringing in Glasgow to the operating theatre offers a unique perspective on the limitations — and possibilities — of modern healthcare.

Together, they explore:

• Why Doc Malik became disillusioned with the NHS
• The importance of a holistic approach to foot and ankle conditions
• The relationship between surgery, conversion rates, and patient outcomes
• How emotional stress and personal history influence physical pain
• The role of proper footwear and when orthotics help — or hinder
• How alignment, body mechanics, and mindset shape long-term healing

This episode is a deep dive into the interconnected nature of the body and mind — and a reminder that pain never exists in isolation.

Where to find Doc Malik:
Website — https://docmalik.com

Where to find Leigh:
Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/beyondthepainpod/
Pain-Free Plate Lead Magnet — https://bodychek.co.uk/pain-free-plate/
Website — https://www.bodychek.co.uk

Pelvic pain, endometriosis, and fertility challenges affect millions of women — yet far too many are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left searching for answers on their own.

In this powerful conversation, Kelly shares her harrowing journey through a life-threatening medical emergency that resulted in emergency surgery. She describes the fear, the uncertainty, and the heartbreaking moment she said goodbye to her husband, unsure if she’d survive the operation.

But this episode is also about resilience, intuition, and rebuilding after trauma. We explore why pelvic pain is so often minimised, how endometriosis can impact fertility, and what women can do to advocate for themselves when the healthcare system falls short.

Whether you’re navigating pelvic pain yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply want to understand this condition on a deeper level — this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Where to find Kelly:
Website (Elysium Wellness): https://thisiselysium.com.au/
Website (Lumaflex): https://lumaflex.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/this_is_elysium_wellness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumaflexau

Where to find me:
Website: https://bodychek.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthepainpod/
Pain-Free Plate (Free Guide): https://bodychek.co.uk/pain-free-plate/
Book a Consultation: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation/

In this powerful episode of Beyond the Pain, I’m joined by Dr. Sean McCaffrey, who shares his remarkable journey from aspiring lawyer to dedicated healer — a path shaped by personal loss, intuition, and a family legacy in medicine.

Sean breaks down the true nature of chronic pain and why it’s never just about the tissues. He explains how lasting healing requires addressing the mechanical, emotional, and nutritional components of the body — and why conventional approaches so often miss the mark.

We explore the role of toxicity and inflammation, the healing potential of nutritional strategies and fasting, and the profound influence of the subconscious mind in either amplifying or reducing pain. Sean also shares incredible success stories from his clinic, demonstrating what’s possible when you address the real root causes instead of chasing symptoms.

If you’ve ever doubted your ability to heal, this episode will challenge your beliefs — and inspire new hope.

Connect with Sean McCaffrey

Website: https://www.mccaffreyhealth.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McCaffreyHealthCenter/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.seanmccaffrey4616
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drseanmccaffrey/?utm_source=qr#
X: https://x.com/mccaffreyhealth?t=lqPanXvg9PwZaH_1hRtlVA

Connect with Leigh

Website: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/
Pain-Free Plate (Free Guide): https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/

Leigh’s Courses:
StickAbility: https://stickabilitycourse.com/
Mastering Client Transformation (for practitioners):
https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/

In this episode, I sit down with chronic pain specialist Vanessa Leone for a deep and refreshing look at what people in pain truly need — to be heard.

Too many people are rushed, dismissed, or handed assumptions about their symptoms. Doctors, surgeons and even allied health professionals often jump straight to solutions without ever asking the most important question: “Why are you here, and what do YOU feel is going on?”

Vanessa explains why listening is the foundation of pain recovery, how reflection helps people uncover their own motivations and patterns, and why persistent pain is rarely caused by a single event. We also explore stress, emotional load, fear, lifestyle patterns and learned pain responses — and how chronic pain begins to unravel when someone is finally given the space to share their story.

If you’ve ever felt unheard by the medical system, or you work with people in pain, this conversation offers a compassionate and practical perspective on what truly helps.

Where to find Vanessa:
Website: https://vlmovementtherapy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vlmovementtherapist/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-leone-2055b86a/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjQ4ywdXvi41RGgqX31AKw

Where to find Leigh:
Website: https://www.bodychek.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthepainpod
Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondThePainPodcast
Consultations: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation/
Free Pain-Free Plate guide: https://bodychek.co.uk/pain-free-plate/

Episode Summary
In this episode, Leigh Brandon sits down with Mario Mancini to explore the real science and clinical wisdom behind acupuncture. Far from being a last-resort therapy, Mario explains how acupuncture acts as a powerful “signal amplifier,” helping the body regulate, reset, and repair.

They break down how acupuncture influences the nervous system, immune function, endogenous pain-relief pathways, and meridian systems — as well as how lifestyle, digestion, inflammation, and stress can amplify chronic pain. You’ll also hear why breathwork and self-regulation practices enhance treatment results and why genuine connection is a core part of the healing process.

What We Cover in This Episode:
• How acupuncture optimises the body’s healing systems
• M1 → M2 macrophage switching and immune modulation
• Why acupuncture enhances other therapies
• How meridians relate to modern physiology
• The role of endogenous opioids in pain relief
• Using acupuncture post-surgery to improve tissue regeneration
• Why chronic pain often isn’t about the original injury
• How diet, digestion and stress amplify persistent pain
• How breathwork supports regulation and recovery
• The biopsychosocial model and whole-person healing

Connect with Mario Mancini

Website: https://manciniacupuncture.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manciniacupuncture
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforIntegrativecare/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@centerforintegrativecare

Connect with Leigh Brandon

Website: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/
Download Leigh’s Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/
Leigh’s courses:
StickAbility – https://stickabilitycourse.com/
Mastering Client Transformation (Professional Course) – https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/

Struggling with chronic pain that won’t shift?

In this episode, Leigh speaks with Liz Wong, whose work in Neuro-Affective Touch reveals how pain can be a communication tool from the body — and why healing often requires more than stretching, strengthening, or managing symptoms.

Liz shares how touch, presence, and relational safety can help release stored trauma, calm the nervous system, and reconnect people with the parts of themselves that have been shut down for years.

If you feel stuck, unheard, or like you’ve “tried everything,” this conversation offers hope, clarity, and a completely different pathway out of pain.

You can contact Liz:

http://www.somaticwellness.co.uk

You can contact Leigh:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

After months of debilitating migraines and post-concussion syndrome, Ethan Reisboard discovered an unexpected path to recovery — hypnotherapy.

In this episode of Beyond the Pain, Ethan shares how he went from chronic pain and frustration to complete healing by working with the subconscious mind. We explore how hypnotherapy helps reprogram pain responses, calm the nervous system, and create lasting change beyond surface-level relief.If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of pain and nothing seems to work — this one’s for you.

⏱️ What You’ll Learn:

00:00 – Introduction and announcement

03:10 – Ethan’s journey from post-concussion syndrome to recovery

10:45 – What hypnotherapy really is and how it works

18:30 – How the subconscious mind influences pain perception

26:20 – Techniques to calm the nervous system and reduce pain

38:10 – Real client success stories

47:00 – How you can start using these principles today

💡 Key Takeaways:Hypnotherapy can help break the body’s chronic pain loopThe subconscious mind plays a major role in pain perceptionYou can retrain your brain for calm, balance, and healing

🎧 Be sure to subscribe to the channel, hit the notification bell, and leave a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you enjoy the show.

You can find Ethan @:

EthanReisHypnotherapy.com

If you previously followed Leigh on Facebook or Instagram, you can now re-follow — the new details are:

instagram.com/beyondthepainpod/

facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583282725889

You can also find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠bodychek.co.uk/

⁠Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/

⁠Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠stickabilitycourse.com/

⁠Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠

In this episode, Leigh Brandon speaks with Kris Rice, founder of ChillPod, about the surprising power of cold therapy to transform both body and mind.

Kris takes us through her journey from avoiding cold water to embracing it as a daily tool for recovery, resilience, and emotional balance. Together they explore:

• The science of cold exposure and its effects on the nervous system

• How cold therapy can reduce pain, inflammation, and speed up recovery

• The mental and emotional health benefits of cold plunging

• Why accessibility and safety are key to sustainable cold therapy practices

• The future of cold immersion in the wellness and recovery world

Whether you’re managing pain, recovering from injury, or simply curious about the hype around cold plunging, this conversation will help you understand why stepping into the cold could be one of the warmest decisions you ever make for your health.

You can find Kris @:

https://thechillpod.co/
https://www.instagram.com/thechillpod.co
https://www.instagram.com/krisricewellness
You can find Leigh @:

Leigh's website - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠

Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠

Leigh's courses:

StickAbility - ⁠https://stickabilitycourse.com/⁠

Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - ⁠https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/⁠