The Fascia-Informed Therapist™ Podcast; Occupational Therapy, Myofascial Release, Fascial System, Posture, Movement, and Mo

MayerWellness
  • 4.7 (7)
  • ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to ”The Fascia-Informed Therapist Podcast,” the ultimate resource for Occupational Therapy Practitioners and health professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge of fascia’s pivotal role in the body. Our mission is to empower you with the confidence to integrate the latest fascia science into your traditional or non-traditional practice. Through our expert-led discussions, we offer high-quality, evidence-based insights and practical tools to enhance your therapeutic approach. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of fascia, featuring interviews with therapists who are applying the science of fascia in both traditional and non-traditional settings, thought-provoking case studies, and exclusive continuing education opportunities tailored for the modern healthcare practitioner. Whether you’re an experienced therapist or just starting, our community is designed to support your journey in becoming a more well-rounded and effective, fascia-informed professional. All health and wellness professionals are invited to dive into this rich field of study with us and transform your practice. Let’s unravel the mysteries of fascia together!

  1. FEB 9

    EP 80 Pain, Protection, and the Adult Body: What Fascia-Informed Therapists Need to Know About Childhood Sexual Abuse

    Recent headlines have once again brought childhood sexual abuse into public view, often in ways that expose survivors while protecting systems of power. In this episode, we shift the focus away from spectacle and back to care. Using evidence from two large systematic reviews, we explore how childhood sexual abuse, often occurring alongside other adverse childhood experiences, shapes nervous system development and increases the risk of chronic pain and pain-related disability in adulthood. We discuss how long-standing threat responses can amplify pain even decades later. For fascia-informed therapists, this episode offers a clear rationale for trauma-informed evaluation, education, and referral which are grounded in science, not assumption. Pain, in this context, is not a failure of tissue, but a signal from a system that learned to survive. Join us: Fascia Informed CE Subscriber References from the podcast: Bussières, A., Hancock, M. J., Elklit, A., Ferreira, M. L., Ferreira, P. H., Stone, L. S., Wideman, T. H., Boruff, J. T., Al Zoubi, F., Chaudhry, F., Tolentino, R., & Hartvigsen, J. (2023). Adverse childhood experience is associated with an increased risk of reporting chronic pain in adulthood: a stystematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of psychotraumatology, 14(2), 2284025. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2284025 Karimov-Zwienenberg, M., Symphor, W., Peraud, W., & Décamps, G. (2024). Childhood trauma, PTSD/CPTSD and chronic pain: A systematic review. PloS one, 19(8), e0309332. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309332 See the alarming extent of NIH and NSF funding cuts in 2025

    41 min

  2. JAN 19

    EP 79 When Definitions Change, Understanding Changes: The Evolving Science of Fascia

    Fascia has become a popular word in health and movement spaces, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, I explore why definitions matter and why fascia is not a fixed concept. How we define fascia shapes the questions we ask in research, the way clinicians think about the body, and how we explain pain, healing, and recovery to the people we serve. I walk through the key definitions that have influenced my own thinking, starting with the traditional structural perspective found in Gray’s Anatomy, moving into the widely accepted definition from the Fascia Research Society that reframed fascia as a three-dimensional environment, and then exploring the function-focused definition proposed by John Sharkey and Mark Flannigan. The heart of the episode focuses on a 2024 update to fascial nomenclature by Bordoni and colleagues, which challenges long-held assumptions by grounding the fascial system in embryology. This work expands the fascial continuum beyond solid connective tissues, emphasizing how tissues that develop together, function together, and communicate together cannot be fully understood when separated conceptually.  https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.53995 Rather than offering a final answer, this episode highlights fascia as a living, adaptive continuum and invites a wider view based on embryology. As our science evolves, our language and perspective must evolve with it. Join the Fascia-Informed way of thinking: Fascia Informed CE Subscriber

    21 min

  3. JAN 13

    Ep 78 From Stress to Stiffness: Fascia and the Healing Response Lessons from Huston, 2022

    In this episode, we explore Dr. Patricia Huston’s 2022 paper proposing a new way to understand chronic disease. Huston suggests that unhealthy lifestyle patterns don’t just strain the heart, lungs, or muscles directly. Rather, they change the behavior of interstitial cells, especially macrophages and fibroblasts. These cells orchestrate inflammation, healing, and tissue remodeling throughout the body. Using a six-level hierarchical network model, Huston shows how environmental pressures, social context, lifestyle habits, and nervous system activity converge on the interstitial microenvironment. When this system becomes overwhelmed, macrophages get stuck in a chronic inflammatory state and fibroblasts begin laying down excessive collagen, leading to fibrosis and organ dysfunction. This stalled healing process provides a unified explanation for why so many chronic diseases progress in similar ways. We discuss why this theory is groundbreaking for fascia-informed therapists and how it aligns with salutogenesis—a health-focused approach centered on restoring interstitial fluid flow, tissue mobility, movement, and self-regulation. This episode offers a science-backed lens for understanding the transformative potential of fascia-based therapy in supporting long-term health and resilience. Join our community of fascia-informed therapists: Fascia Informed CE   One option for explaining this simply to clients: Your daily habits change the environment your cells live in. The fascia is your cells' environment. And cells behave differently depending on that environment. This means lifestyle does not just affect symptoms. It affects how your cells decide whether to heal or stay inflamed.

    36 min

  4. JAN 5

    EP77 How do you talk to your clients about new year resolutions?

    In this episode I share a concept about new year resolutions that I address with all my clients. You must meet your body where it is at. Are you ready to jump into a new fitness program or is there are more important place to begin? Join me as a run through the foundations to healthy fascia and finding success with a new fitness goal.   I've also changed email platforms. If you haven't joined our community, now is the time! CLICK HERE

    25 min

  5. 12/07/2025

    Season 2 EP 76 How Mindset Shapes Health: Scientific Insights

    In this episode, we explore the powerful and often misunderstood connection between the mind and the body. Drawing from recent research across psychology, behavioral medicine, neuroscience, and aging studies, we break down what the science actually says about mindset and how beliefs, expectations, and interpretations of symptoms can directly influence the physical experience of health. This is not about pretending everything is fine or relying on blind positivity. Instead, we examine the measurable ways that a growth health mindset, mindfulness, and intentional positive thinking can shape pain perception, inflammation, recovery, motivation, and overall well-being. We also look at how cultural narratives, stereotypes, and clinician language can create either healing momentum or nocebo effects that worsen symptoms. You’ll hear insights on: • how expectations influence pain and cognitive performance • why a growth mindset promotes healthier behaviors and better outcomes • the role of optimism in longevity and physiological resilience • how stereotypes about aging and illness shape real biological change • the difference between meaningful positive thinking and toxic positivity Whether you are a healthcare provider, someone living with chronic symptoms, or simply curious about how mindset intersects with health, this episode offers a grounded, science-informed perspective and practical ways to support healing from the inside out. Tune in to learn how shifting the way you think about health can shift the way you experience it emotionally, behaviorally, and physiologically.   Study referenced: Parsamanesh, P., & Vysochyn, M. (2024). A Psychological Exploration of the Power of Our Mindset and Its Influence on Physiological Health. Cureus, 16(1), e52505. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.52505   Join Us for the March CE Weekend! Fascia-Informed Continuing Education - The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™

    34 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    Season 2 EP 75 Fascia-Informed Practice: An Experiential CE Weekend for Practitioners

    Join us for a special episode introducing “Fascia-Informed Practice: An Experiential CE Weekend for Practitioners”, happening March 28–29, 2026. This weekend-long continuing education course offers hands-on training in fascia science, therapeutic techniques, movement, breathwork, and client education all rooted in evidence-based fascia theory and a whole-person lens. Whether you’re an occupational therapist, wellness practitioner, movement specialist, or bodywork professional, this CE will deepen your understanding of fascia, equip you with safe and effective manual therapy and self-care tools, and transform how you view and treat the body. Space is limited to 14 participants so we can have a true immersive learning experience. Tune in to hear why fascia matters, what you’ll learn, and how this weekend could reshape your practice and healing philosophy. Join the newsletter for updates: Health and Wellness Practitioners

    32 min

  7. 10/26/2025

    Season 2 EP 74 Interstitial Inflammatory Stasis: A New Lens on Chronic Pain Mechanisms

    In this episode, we unpack the Interstitial Inflammatory Stasis (IIS) hypothesis introduced by Tuckey et al. (2021) in Frontiers in Pain Research. The authors propose that after injury or immune activation, inflammation can become “trapped” within the body’s microscopic fluid channels creating a self-perpetuating loop of congestion, fascial tension, and pain. You’ll learn how this model integrates existing pain theories into one fascia-based framework. We’ll also explore how these ideas align with occupational therapy practice: restoring interstitial flow through movement, breath, manual therapy, and autonomic regulation. Join the fascia-informed conversation: The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded in science. Practicing on the cutting edge. References Benias, P. C., Wells, R. G., Sackey-Aboagye, B., Klavan, H., Reidy, J., Buonocore, D., Miranda, M., Kornacki, S., Wayne, M., Carr-Locke, D. L., & Theise, N. D. (2018). Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues. Scientific reports, 8(1), 4947. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23062-6 Tuckey, B., Srbely, J., Rigney, G., Vythilingam, M., & Shah, J. (2021). Impaired Lymphatic Drainage and Interstitial Inflammatory Stasis in Chronic Musculoskeletal and Idiopathic Pain Syndromes: Exploring a Novel Mechanism. Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2, 691740. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2021.691740

    29 min

  8. 10/19/2025

    Season 2 EP 73 Holding Space in the Hospital: A Personal Reflection on Care and Compassion

    If you’ve ever had a loved one in the hospital, you know the range of emotions that comes with it including fear, frustration, hope, and gratitude, often all at once. In this episode, I share my personal experience navigating my father’s recent hospitalization for an acute illness (on top of a long-term disability) and what it has reminded me about the human side of healthcare. When we take the time to truly see and understand our patients including their history, their challenges, their stories, we can provide care that is not just skillful, but compassionate. This episode is both a reflection and a reminder of why understanding and empathy must remain at the heart of our fascia-informed practice. Join the conversation: The Fascia-Informed Therapist ™ - Grounded in science. Practicing on the cutting edge.

    17 min
See All (80)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to ”The Fascia-Informed Therapist Podcast,” the ultimate resource for Occupational Therapy Practitioners and health professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge of fascia’s pivotal role in the body. Our mission is to empower you with the confidence to integrate the latest fascia science into your traditional or non-traditional practice. Through our expert-led discussions, we offer high-quality, evidence-based insights and practical tools to enhance your therapeutic approach. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of fascia, featuring interviews with therapists who are applying the science of fascia in both traditional and non-traditional settings, thought-provoking case studies, and exclusive continuing education opportunities tailored for the modern healthcare practitioner. Whether you’re an experienced therapist or just starting, our community is designed to support your journey in becoming a more well-rounded and effective, fascia-informed professional. All health and wellness professionals are invited to dive into this rich field of study with us and transform your practice. Let’s unravel the mysteries of fascia together!

Information

You Might Also Like