The Curiosity Cure - MindBody Wellness

Deb Malkin
  • 5.0 (19)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Deb Malkin, certified life coach, bodyworker, hypnotist and Pain Recovery Coach shares tips for rewiring persistent pain and emotional overwhelm. After experiencing their own overnight transformation of her chronic knee pain while 50, fat and with an x-ray showing degenerative osteoarthritis, she discovered pain wasn't only what her bodywork education or doctors were teaching. Using tools inspired by the work of Dr. Sarno, physician and author of Healing Back Pain and Mindbody Prescription she has added a blend of mindbody awareness, polyvagal theory, life coaching magic and a lot of health at every size rebelliousness to develop thier own special process that takes into consideration the affects of marginalization and stigma to teach the brain and body how to embody safety and unlearn pain. Deb is a long time bodyworker, movement enthusiast, former plus size clothing store owner and aging fat queer human with an irreverent sense of humor. She believes all bodies are born with inherent worth and value. Trained by Dr. Howard Schubiner, a renowned Mindbody Physician and Charlie Merrill, PT, the Pain Psychology Center and famed Hypnotist Melissa Tiers, Deb has successfully helped clients eliminate or reduce migraine, back pain, knee, foot and fibromyalgia pain and her clients have resumed creating lives full of richly desired physical activities without fear about chronic or persistent pain.

  1. S2E63 My Body Is Not A Disease

    FEB 19

    S2E63 My Body Is Not A Disease

    Meet Amy Schere, LCSW. She and I are members of the WSNSWG, Weight Stigma, Neuroplastic Symptom Working Group, presenters at the 2025 ATNS Conference and co-authors of the upcoming chapter about the intersection of weight stigma and neuroplastic symptoms. This episode is an introduction to Amy, her personal recovery story from chronic back pain and how that overlapped with eating disorder recovery. She's one of the most thoughtful and compassionate humans I know doing this work. I hope that you discover some powerful nuggets for your own chronic pain + symptom recovery journey from out conversation.  Amy is a clinical social worker/psychotherapist based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She works primarily with clients who experience neuroplastic symptoms, as well as anxiety, depression, trauma, and eating disorders/body image concerns. She uses Pain Reprocessing Therapy and Internal Family Systems as primary approaches, and integrating some somatic, mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral approaches (CBT, ACT) as well.  Additionally, Amy uses a Health at Every Size/body liberation approach when working with all clients and am passionate about providing size-inclusive care. Prior to being a psychotherapist, she practiced for 10 years as a physical therapist, specializing in working with patients with neurological conditions. After finding her own relief from chronic back pain through the mind-body approach, she began offering this work to patients as a PT. Amy eventually went back to school for clinical social work to be able to turn her focus to providing psychotherapy for clients with neuroplastic symptoms. She loves working through a holistic lens and bringing her clients thorough knowledge of both the mind and body!  Her website:https://3rdwavetherapy.com/provider/amy-schere-lcsw/ Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    48 min
  2. S2E62 Surgery Recovery Update

    12/24/2025

    S2E62 Surgery Recovery Update

    Merry Christmas, Happy Belated Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year! Not sure if I'll be doing any more podcasts this year as I'm kind of winging it this season.   I'm just about 6 weeks post surgery and I feel great! Surgery, what surgery?   It took me a minute to edit this podcast because I picked up a holiday foster dog and he threw me off of everything, so it was slow getting this done but here it is. This episode is about how I used my mindbody practices to help me navigate physical + emotional pain post surgery.     I think the things that stand out the most are having the ability to witness physical + emotional distress. Recognize the hurts underneath, unmet needs or unfulfilled desires and address them if possible and always use any experience and an opportunity for increasing self love, attunement and care.     There's something sobering about surgery, even simple ones like a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Having the skills to navigate whatever arises with a sense of compassion, equanimity and curiosity helps keep fear from running the show. It's been a humbling and powerful experience getting to know myself even better in this process of healing. And way to go body, I'm really proud of you for getting it done, celebrating the miracle that is being human and being alive.     I hope there are some nuggets here for you to use for your own mindbody journey.   Thank you everyone who sent me sweet messages, I so appreciate your care and affection. Wishing you ever increasing light and joy as we enter 2026.  Here's a useful article about the Twin Peaks Model of pain -  https://spineandsports.clinic/blog/persistent-pain Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    47 min
  3. S2E61 The Body You Have Today

    11/12/2025

    S2E61 The Body You Have Today

    It's been NYC Marathon time and if you're online or even in NYC you can't miss vast amount of marathon related content. I love the marathon even though I have no real ambition to do one. First because it's a super fun collective experience and I think with the current political landscape there's something that's so essential about coming together in public to do something together in celebration that feels very precious.   And because the marathon is chock full of mindbody mastery types of moments that aren't just about pushing through or winning but are much more nuanced and powerful.     In this episode I cite a short interview with Pauline Larkin, a runner living in Brooklyn who shared her experiences going through chemo and running the marathon. I hope you are able to take some of her pearls of mindbody wisdom that I'm so happy to share. I also link to two of my favorite running content makers, Martinus Evans and Latoya Shauntay Snell.     Enjoy! And get out and do the thing in the body you have today! The Instagram Interview with Pauline -  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQeVTSLjkc7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== Also she's raising money for cancer research, please support her - https://www.instagram.com/pauline_larkin_brooklyn/ Latoya's IG - https://www.instagram.com/iamlshauntay Martinus' IG - https://www.instagram.com/martinusevans/ Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    26 min
  4. S2E60 Anti-Fat Bias with Sean Hershey

    10/23/2025

    S2E60 Anti-Fat Bias with Sean Hershey

    This episode is a replay of a conversation I had with Sean Hershey on his podcast, Mind-Body Medicine for Chronic Pain.   It was a great way to recap te experience of the talk that I did with colleague Amy Schere. From Sean's perspective our talk created a bit of a stir, but as many of you know, the science is out there about the mental + physical impacts of weight stigma, we're just the first ones to talk about it in relationship with neuroplastic symptoms and recovery.     We'll be talking more about the research and materials so stay tuned but enjoy this conversation with Sean. And if you're looking for a therapist, he has room in his practice.   Sean's website:  https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_gay_therapist/   Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    1h 8m
  5. S2E59 Empowering Embodiment with Amber

    10/09/2025

    S2E59 Empowering Embodiment with Amber

    This episode is a chat with my bestie Amber Karnes, a yoga teacher, rukus maker and body empowerment experience maker. We talk about how to safely create engaging exposure experiences to help our brains and bodies update our understanding of what's possible in our today bodies.     She's one of my treasured inner circle humans and I hope that you are as inspired by her as I am. She's someone makes imaginations into reality both for her students and for other business owners who are stepping into their own visibility. Have a listen and notice what feels like the empowered embodiment invitation for you!  Amber Karnes is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator who’s obsessed with building community. She hosts adventure retreats where daring women can explore body acceptance through art, yoga, nature, and travel. She also coaches solo business owners how to do marketing without social media. Amber is the creator of Body Positive Yoga and the host of amberhouse, a yoga club for the rest of us. Her newest projects include a surfing retreat for complete beginners and an online community for folks who want to quit social media. Find her at amberkarnes.com. Website link -https://amberkarnes.com Instagram link - https://instagram.com/amberkarnesofficial   Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    1h 17m
  6. S2E58 Trigger Mapping

    09/15/2025

    S2E58 Trigger Mapping

    This podcast I take you on a journey into my own health stuff as I notice and map my stress triggers and work with fear, shame and curiosity to help my mindbody system navigate the unknown.   One of the most important practices we can build is to start to decrease our sense of threat by using trauma empowering exercises like Trigger Mapping. I first learned this activity in my Somatica Coaching Training, and of course noticed the similarities with other somatic practices like somatic tracking in Pain Reprocessing Therapy. All of this work has a similar foundation of cultivating non-judgmental awareness, a loving witness, curiosity and a felt sense of safety while doing exposure activities. They might use slightly different language but there's a lot of overlaps.     One of the foundations of Somatica that I appreciate most is the radical acceptance of emotions and also the prioritization of pleasure. I have found adding an emphasis on pleasure in my own somatic practices have made them, well a whole lot more pleasurable to do.     Have a listen and start to explore your own Triggers in this way. Where can you start to notice the edges and boundaries of your stress and/or responses? Here's an article about the Science Behind Somatica - https://www.somaticainstitute.com/science-behind-somatica/ Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    31 min
  7. S2E57 Weight Stigma + Neuroplastic Symptom Recovery with Dr. Lily

    08/29/2025

    S2E57 Weight Stigma + Neuroplastic Symptom Recovery with Dr. Lily

    Dr. Lilia Graue is a treasured colleague and friend who is both an experienced Mindbody Medicine Practitioner and someone I found as an ally in the unique challenges that people of size face in accessing supportive care on their journey with pain.   This episode she shares her personal pain recovery story as well as some research on weight stigma, dieting, threat physiology and how to approach creating corrective experiences in healing.   Dr. Lilia Graue is a physician, psychotherapist, and mindbody healing mentor.   After living with chronic pain for more than a decade, she found freedom through an integrative mindbody approach grounded in neuroscience, mindfulness, and compassion.   Today, she supports people living with chronic pain, fatigue, long COVID, and other persistent symptoms to reconnect with safety, vitality, and agency. She also mentors fellow practitioners—therapists, coaches, and clinicians—to create trauma-integrative, relational, and sustainable healing spaces.     With over 25 years of experience in medicine and psychotherapy, Dr. Graue’s work prioritizes consent, curiosity, and co-creation, honoring individual context, systemic influences, and the power of genuine relationship in supporting long-term change and healing. She works with people globally in both English and Spanish.   Originally from Mexico City, she currently lives in London with her husband and the two adorable rescue cats who own them, Ziggy and Lupito. In addition to her work, she loves spending time in nature, baking, reading, traveling, and enjoying live music. Dr. Lilia Graue's website - https://liliagraue.com/ Take her in-depth mind-body assessment - https://liliagraue.com/in-depth-assessment Sign up to her newsletter! -  https://liliagraue.com/enchanted-loom  She also has a couple of spots open for her 1:1 mentorship programs:  Reclaim Your Life - https://liliagraue.com/reclaim-your-life   Replenish Your Practice - https://liliagraue.com/replenish-your-practice Research mentioned in the conversation: Physiologic Responses to Sensory Stimulation by Food: Nutritional Implications by RICHARD D. MATTES PhD, RD - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002822397001016 What’s Wrong With the ‘War on Obesity?’ A Narrative Review of the Weight-Centered Health Paradigm and Development of the 3C Framework to Build Critical Competency for a Paradigm Shift by Lily O’Hara and Jane Taylor - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2158244018772888 Coming to terms with fear by Joseph E LeDoux - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3939902/ Fear conditioning as a pathogenic mechanism in the postural tachycardia syndrome by Lucy Norcliffe-Kaufmann... - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10200284/   Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    1h 19m
  8. S2E56 - De-Thingifying Responses to Symptoms

    08/15/2025

    S2E56 - De-Thingifying Responses to Symptoms

    In this episode I share some advice I gave to a client today about moving themselves away from creating a ritual or a rigid response to a new symptoms that's showing up for them. When we "thingify" anything, we are teaching the brain a heuristic, a pattern that it will subconsconciously learn and uphold. Since this client and I have worked together for awhile and they've relieved the majority of their symptoms, they were able to catch their pattern of creating safety by controlling and ritualizing their response to symptoms.     At the heart of mindbody work we are always working with increasing safety and dialing down fear, cultivating a sense of curiosity and self kindness when difficult thoughts, feelings + sensations arise.     I share a bit of my own health journey, my book writing and the most recent retreat I went on.   Check it out and find those aha tidbits that help you feel even more brave, more clear on your mindbody healing path.   I'm always happy for you to reach out and book a curiosity call!  If you want to know more about Amber's retreats.... https://amberkarnes.com/retreats/   Book a free half hour curiosity call with me - https://calendly.com/paincoachdeb Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pain.coach.deb/ Website - https://www.thecuriositycure.com

    35 min
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About

Deb Malkin, certified life coach, bodyworker, hypnotist and Pain Recovery Coach shares tips for rewiring persistent pain and emotional overwhelm. After experiencing their own overnight transformation of her chronic knee pain while 50, fat and with an x-ray showing degenerative osteoarthritis, she discovered pain wasn't only what her bodywork education or doctors were teaching. Using tools inspired by the work of Dr. Sarno, physician and author of Healing Back Pain and Mindbody Prescription she has added a blend of mindbody awareness, polyvagal theory, life coaching magic and a lot of health at every size rebelliousness to develop thier own special process that takes into consideration the affects of marginalization and stigma to teach the brain and body how to embody safety and unlearn pain. Deb is a long time bodyworker, movement enthusiast, former plus size clothing store owner and aging fat queer human with an irreverent sense of humor. She believes all bodies are born with inherent worth and value. Trained by Dr. Howard Schubiner, a renowned Mindbody Physician and Charlie Merrill, PT, the Pain Psychology Center and famed Hypnotist Melissa Tiers, Deb has successfully helped clients eliminate or reduce migraine, back pain, knee, foot and fibromyalgia pain and her clients have resumed creating lives full of richly desired physical activities without fear about chronic or persistent pain.

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