The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter

Jackie Baxter
  • 4.7 (71)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter - a gentle, grounded space for anyone navigating a health challenge. ​ For five years, this show was known as The Long Covid Podcast, supporting thousands of listeners through the uncertainty of post‑viral illness. After my own lived experience and recovery from Long Covid, the conversations naturally grew wider — into ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, Trauma, Burnout and the deep nervous‑system work that underpins so many healing journeys. ​ This reimagined podcast honours that evolution. ​ Each week, I explore the science, stories, and small, steady practices that help the body feel safer and more supported. You’ll hear from clinicians, researchers, practitioners and people walking their own recovery paths through the power of honest conversation. ​ Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or somewhere in the long, winding middle, you’re welcome here. Take a breath. Settle in. This is your recovery room. This podcast will always remain free, but if you like what you hear and are able to, please head along to www.buymeacoffee.com/JackiesRecoveryRoom to help me cover costs. ~ Follow me on socials @JackiesRecoveryRoom  ~ Website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Do get in touch - I love to hear from you!

  1. 1d ago

    226 - Dan Neuffer - Out of the Box: Living Your Own Blueprint

    Dan Neuffer and I explore authentic living as a practical way to honour our needs without abandoning responsibility, and why that balance matters even more when we are unwell. We look at how fear, perfectionism, and people-pleasing create inner conflict, drain our energy, and can keep our nervous system stuck in threat.  • Defining authentic living as self-honouring with balance  • Why constant selflessness can become self-neglect  • How childhood patterns and social approval shape our “shoulds”  • Telltale signs of inauthentic living such as resentment and emotion management  • The link between internal conflict, safety, and chronic illness recovery such as Long Covid and ME/CFS  • Perfectionism, social media pressure, and the fear of judgement  • Practical steps: honesty with ourselves, clearer communication, and boundaries  • Choosing small wins over drastic decisions to create lasting change  Connect with Dan:  CFS Recovery Stories: https://cfsunravelled.com/me-cfs-recovery-stories-patient-me-cfs-stories-with-a-difference/      ANS REWIRE Free Lessons:  https://ansrewire.com/info-request/  Connect with Jackie:  The Recovery Room website: https://www.jackiesrecoveryroom.com/ Breathing Classes: https://longcovidbreathing.com/  Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    226 - Dan Neuffer - Out of the Box: Living Your Own Blueprint

  2. Sep 9

    225 - 25,000 Chances to Heal: Making Every Breath Work for You

    We explore breath as a practical healing tool for Long Covid and ME/CFS, especially when breathlessness, air hunger, or panic keeps the body stuck in survival mode. I share why “appropriate breathwork” is gentle, flexible, and powerful enough to support both recovery and everyday health.  • Why breathing patterns change during illness and can stay dysfunctional afterwards  • The vicious cycle where breath discomfort signals danger and escalates symptoms  • How better breathing supports efficiency and frees energy for healing and life  • Nervous system regulation through functional breathing and micro moments of safety  • Why a one-size-fits-all protocol can backfire and what “meet yourself where you are” looks like  • What to avoid in recovery, including deliberate hyperventilation and breath holds  • Easing into practices, adjusting dose, and using breath to support pacing and emotions  • Resources for safe breathwork including courses, blogs, videos, and Insight Timer tracks  Links:  Breathing for Long Covid & ME/CFS breathing courses: www.LongCovidBreathing.com Breathing blogs: https://longcovidbreathing.com/blogs Breathe with me on Insight Timer: https://insig.ht/mqSr1s0245b (or search "Jackie Baxter" on the appMore info about working with me: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com/WorkWithMe  Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    225 - 25,000 Chances to Heal: Making Every Breath Work for You

  3. Sep 2

    224 - From Data to Body Wisdom: When to Use (and Ditch) Heart Rate Monitoring

    In part two of Jackie’s conversation with physiotherapist and Long Covid patient Robin McNelis (“Robin the Physio”), they dig into how heart rate monitors and wearables can support (or sabotage) pacing in Long Covid and ME/CFS. Robin shares both clinical and personal examples of using tech as a behaviour-change tool, not a dictator, and how it can help people eventually trust their bodies more, not less. In This Episode: When heart rate monitoring is helpful and when it becomes stressful and counterproductiveRobin’s concept of “counterintuitive” heart rate monitoring and why some people need to start with higher alert thresholdsReal-life examples of unexpected triggers (like showering, stairs, and bending) and how tiny tweaks made big differencesUsing devices first to learn your boundaries, then turning down or off alerts to lean more on body awarenessHow to decide if tech is right for you right now: What is it helping you change? Is it reducing crashes or just adding pressure? Key Takeaways Tech is optional: it’s the right tool for the right person, at the right time, in the right way.The goal isn’t perfect data—it’s better awareness, steadier pacing, and fewer boom-and-bust crashes. Links: More about Robin: http://www.robinthephysio.co.uk  Check out Part 1 of this discussion: 223 - Holistic Detective Work: Unpicking Breath, Pacing & Fatigue with Robin the Physio  Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    224 - From Data to Body Wisdom: When to Use (and Ditch) Heart Rate Monitoring

  4. Aug 26

    223 - Holistic Detective Work: Unpicking Breath, Pacing & Fatigue with Robin the Physio

    Jackie is joined by Robin McNelis (Robin the Physio), a cardio‑respiratory physio and Long Covid specialist, who went from running marathons and leading hospital services to his own Long Covid recovery journey. In this episode: What happens when all your tests are “normal” but you’re clearly not.Robin’s role as a “holistic detective” for complex breathing, fatigue and Long Covid cases.How ideas from elite sport and marginal gains translate to people just trying to shower or get to the bathroom without crashing.The reality of post‑Covid personal bests and why “small” wins matter.A practical, compassionate look at pacing across physical, cognitive, emotional and social exertion, using the FITT principles.Real‑life stories of patients reclaiming reading, hobbies and daily life through tiny, well‑timed adjustments.This is Part 1 of the conversation - hear part 2 for more on pacing, heart rate, breathing, and tools to support recovery. Links: More about Robin: http://www.robinthephysio.co.uk Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    223 - Holistic Detective Work: Unpicking Breath, Pacing & Fatigue with Robin the Physio

  5. Aug 19

    222 - Jake Hollis - What If Validation Is A Treatment Too

    I talk with clinical psychologist Dr Jake Hollis about recovering from ME/CFS and Long Covid, and why the nervous system offers a more useful frame than the tired “mind versus body” argument. We explore how validation, language, and recovery stories can shift the brain’s predictions and open up real possibilities for change.  • Jake’s lived experience of long-term illness and a slow recovery path  • How neuroplastic recovery therapies fit alongside biology rather than replacing it  • Why recovery stories can create a visceral nervous system shift  • The harm caused when recovered people are disbelieved or silenced  • How the mind body divide shows up in healthcare systems and culture  • Biomarkers, legitimacy, and why absence of a test is not absence of illness  • Mental health stigma as a hidden driver of conflict and miscommunication  • Emotional suppression, shame, and “keep calm and carry on” conditioning  • Blame versus responsibility as a more compassionate recovery framework  Links: More about Jake: www.fatiguepsychologist.com Unlearn Your Pain in the US and in the UK Howard Schubiner chats to Rangan Chatterjee Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    222 - Jake Hollis - What If Validation Is A Treatment Too

  6. Aug 12

    221 - A New Room, The Same Heart. Welcome to The Recovery Room

    Five years after starting the Long Covid Podcast, Jackie introduces The Recovery Room – a wider, gentler space for anyone navigating Long Covid, ME/CFS, Dysautonomia, PoTS, Trauma, Burnout, nervous system overwhelm, and long-term recovery. In this episode, Jackie shares: Why the podcast is evolving and what “The Recovery Room” means.How her own recovery showed that healing is about more than symptoms.How Long Covid overlaps with other conditions, and why this space now holds many experiences, not just one diagnosisWhat’s staying the same: evidence-informed conversations, recovery stories, nervous system insights, and honest, vulnerable discussions held in a way that feels safe.She closes with a short grounding practice you can use anytime: Noticing your breathGently checking in with how you feelAsking, “What would help me feel 1% safer right now?”Remembering that small, consistent, gentle shifts are the foundation of recovery.Practical updates: The podcast is now called The Recovery Room with Jackie BaxterSocial media, visuals, and app names will update over the coming daysThe new website is live: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    221 - A New Room, The Same Heart. Welcome to The Recovery Room

  7. Season 1 Trailer

    Welcome to The Recovery Room, with Jackie Baxter

    Welcome to The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter This space is the natural evolution of a journey that began during my own recovery and through 5 years of the Long Covid Podcast. A place for anyone navigating a health challenge where they feel misunderstood, isolated and uncertain of the future.A place where science and lived experience sit side by side.A place where fear can soften, and hope can feel realistic again. Gain actionable insights and tools through honest stories, conversations and the power of connection Listen to The Recovery Room wherever you get your podcasts or at www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    Welcome to The Recovery Room, with Jackie Baxter

  8. Jun 25

    220 - Deepak Ravindran: Recovery Is Not Either/Or: Bridging Biology and Neuroplasticity

    I catch up with pain consultant Dr Deepak Ravindran on what four years of Long Covid clinic work and research has taught him about why people get stuck with fatigue, pain, brain fog and autonomic symptoms. We argue for a practical middle path that validates biological change while using neuroplasticity and whole-person support to help the system relearn safety and move forwards.  • Deepak’s shift from pain medicine into leading a Berkshire Long Covid clinic and what patterns stood out over time  • Why most Long Covid patients were not hospitalised and why symptoms can still be severe  • The pressure on UK primary care and the case for better signposting to high-quality resources  • Why “either biology or brain” is the wrong frame and how the neuro-immune system acts as one unit  • What central sensitisation and predictive processing explain about persistent symptoms  • Evidence and theories: cytokines, neuro-inflammation signals, auto-antibodies, viral reservoirs and micro-clotting  • Treatment principles: combining medication trials with nervous system regulation and paced rehabilitation  • The STIMULATE ICP study approach and why integrated care pathways can outperform single-drug hopes  • Practical “waiting well” strategies: sleep, movement, breathing techniques, mindfulness and confidence-building  • Why recovery is individual, slow, and built from consistency rather than quick fixes  Links: Our previous episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/11277564 Ami Banerjee episode (Stimulate ICP): https://www.buzzsprout.com/1835170/episodes/12209909 Berkshire Pain Clinic: https://theberkshireclinic.com/consultants/deepak-ravindran/Deepak's blog on Living Proof: https://www.livingproof.org.uk/post/book-review-pain-free-mindsetPain speak Podcast: https://deepakravindran.co.uk/podcast/ Message me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merch Visit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**

    220 - Deepak Ravindran: Recovery Is Not Either/Or: Bridging Biology and Neuroplasticity
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4.7
out of 5
71 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter - a gentle, grounded space for anyone navigating a health challenge. ​ For five years, this show was known as The Long Covid Podcast, supporting thousands of listeners through the uncertainty of post‑viral illness. After my own lived experience and recovery from Long Covid, the conversations naturally grew wider — into ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, Trauma, Burnout and the deep nervous‑system work that underpins so many healing journeys. ​ This reimagined podcast honours that evolution. ​ Each week, I explore the science, stories, and small, steady practices that help the body feel safer and more supported. You’ll hear from clinicians, researchers, practitioners and people walking their own recovery paths through the power of honest conversation. ​ Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or somewhere in the long, winding middle, you’re welcome here. Take a breath. Settle in. This is your recovery room. This podcast will always remain free, but if you like what you hear and are able to, please head along to www.buymeacoffee.com/JackiesRecoveryRoom to help me cover costs. ~ Follow me on socials @JackiesRecoveryRoom  ~ Website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com  Do get in touch - I love to hear from you!

Information

  • Creator
    Jackie Baxter
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    228
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2026 The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter
  • Show Website
    The Recovery Room with Jackie Baxter