Beyond The Pain

Leigh Brandon

Beyond The Pain is your guide to uncovering the real root causes of chronic pain and reclaiming a life without limits. Hosted by Leigh Brandon—Functional Medicine Practitioner, CHEK Faculty Instructor, and author with nearly 30 years of experience—this show explores the physical, emotional, nutritional, and environmental drivers of pain. Through expert interviews and solo insights, you’ll discover holistic strategies that heal, empower, and transform where conventional methods fall short.

  1. 1d ago

    Can Energy Healing Help Chronic Pain? with Romain Daumont

    Energy healing is often dismissed as “woo woo” by people who have never experienced it. But what if some of what we call woo woo is simply what science has not yet learned how to measure? In this episode of Beyond The Pain, I speak with Romain Daumont, founder of Luminara Care, about energy healing, chronic pain, grief, silence, trust, and the emerging science around biofield therapies. Romain’s journey into this work began after the heartbreaking loss of his son, Rafael, shortly after birth. During that period of grief, he discovered something unexpected: silence did not have to feel empty or frightening. In the presence of others, silence could feel loving, supportive, and deeply connecting. That experience eventually led him to create Helo, an app designed to help people share moments of silence together, even when physically apart. But Romain’s path later took another turn when he began exploring collective meditation, remote healing, and the world of energy medicine. In this conversation, we discuss how energy healing may support people with chronic pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, and cancer-related pain, while also being honest that it does not work for everyone, and that the quality and integrity of the practitioner matters enormously. We also talk about why trust is so important in an unregulated field, how Luminara vets practitioners, what a first session may look like, and why Romain is now involved in research looking at energy healing, chronic pain, trauma, and other health challenges. This is a thought-provoking conversation about pain, the nervous system, emotional healing, the biofield, science, scepticism, and the possibility that healing may involve more than the physical body alone. In this episode, we discuss: Why Romain’s experience of grief changed his relationship with silenceHow shared silence can create connection without wordsThe story behind Helo and Luminara CareWhy Romain became interested in collective meditation and remote healingHow energy healing may help some people with chronic painWhy practitioner quality, ethics, and trust matter so muchWhat mainstream pain care may miss about persistent painWhy pain is not simply something to suppressThe relationship between pain, the nervous system, emotions, and the bodyWhat a first energy healing session through Luminara may look likeHow Luminara matches clients with vetted practitionersThe importance of consent, openness, and safety in healing workEmerging research into biofield therapies and energy healingWhy the future of healthcare may need to become more integrative Connect with Romain: Website: https://www.luminara.care/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luminara.care/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/luminara-care/ Connect with Leigh: Beyond The Pain paperback: https://amzn.to/4y2HVWg Beyond The Pain ebook: https://amzn.to/4y0lH78 Beyond The Pain 14-Day Programme: https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/ Pain-Free Plate Free Guide: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/ Consult with Leigh: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation

    1h 46m
  2. Jul 6

    Healing Chronic Pain: The Mind, Body & Lifestyle Connection with Hany Demian

    Chronic pain is often treated as though it is purely a physical problem — an injury, a joint issue, a disc problem, inflammation, or degeneration. But for many people living with persistent pain, the real picture is far more complex. In this episode of Beyond The Pain, I speak with pain management expert Hany Demian about why chronic pain often needs to be understood through a much wider lens — one that includes the body, mind, emotions, stress, lifestyle, inflammation, nervous system sensitivity, and the person’s overall health. Hany shares his own journey into medicine, the limitations he began to see in conventional pain management, and why he became increasingly interested in cellular health, regenerative medicine, and more holistic approaches to healing. We discuss why pain is not always just about the place where it hurts, why mindset and emotional stress can influence recovery, and why nutrition, movement, sleep, inflammation, oxidative stress, and lifestyle choices may all play a role in whether someone gets better or remains stuck. This is not about saying pain is “all in your head.” It is about recognising that persistent pain is often a whole-person problem — and therefore recovery may need a whole-person approach. In this episode, we discuss: Why chronic pain is often more than just an injury or structural problemThe limitations of conventional pain management when root causes are missedHow inflammation, oxidative stress, and lifestyle stress can contribute to persistent painWhy mindset and emotional health can influence chronic pain recoveryThe role of nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management in healingWhy some people struggle to recover even after injections, procedures, or medicationHow taking a more proactive role in your health can support long-term pain reliefIf you are living with chronic pain, persistent pain, back pain, joint pain, or ongoing symptoms that have not fully responded to conventional treatment, this episode will help you think differently about what may be driving your pain — and what you may be able to do about it. Connect with Dr Hany: Website - https://drdemian.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/drhanydemian/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@drhanydemain Connect with Leigh: Beyond The Pain book - https://amzn.to/44ArJxTBeyond The Pain 14-Day Programme - https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/ Pain-Free Plate Free Guide - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/⁠ Consult with Leigh - ⁠https://www.bodychek.co.uk/⁠consultation

    1h 25m
  3. Jun 29

    Cam Cordin: Chronic Pain, Cold Exposure & Rebuilding Health

    In this episode of Beyond The Pain, I speak with Cam Cordin about his powerful journey from chronic pain, physical breakdown and emotional rock bottom to rebuilding his health through discipline, resilience and what he calls the Savage Chill System. Cam had spent years training hard through powerlifting, Jiu Jitsu and athletics, but by his late thirties, his body began to break down. What started as soreness gradually became debilitating pain, numbness in his hands, and the realisation that he could no longer keep pushing through life in the same way. After facing the prospect of managed decline, pain medication and a life that felt increasingly limited, Cam made a decision: he was going to stop outsourcing responsibility for his health and begin understanding what his body truly needed. In this conversation, Cam shares how cold exposure, kettlebell training, mental resilience and a structured daily system helped him rebuild his body, reconnect with his purpose and move beyond simply managing symptoms. We discuss why discomfort is often something to move towards rather than avoid, how fear can hold people back from change, and why real transformation often requires both physical and mental discipline. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing is not always comfortable, linear or easy — but with the right mindset, structure and support, it is possible to reclaim your health and your life. In this episode, we discuss: Why Cam’s health started to decline despite years of athletic training How chronic pain, numbness and physical limitation affected his life Why conventional approaches did not give him the answers he needed How cold exposure became a turning point in his recovery The role of kettlebell training in rebuilding strength and resilience Why mental toughness is not about ignoring pain, but learning how to respond differently How Cam developed the Savage Chill System Why structure, consistency and personal responsibility matter in healing Practical first steps for people who feel stuck in pain or poor health Connect with Cam Cordin: Website: https://savagechillstyle.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camcordin Connect with Leigh: Beyond The Pain book Free Chapter: https://bodychek.co.uk/book-waitlist/ Beyond The Pain 14-Day Programme: https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/ Pain-Free Plate Free Guide: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/ Consult with Leigh: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation

    1h 31m
  4. Jun 22

    Rethinking Pain Care: Beyond Technique to a Whole-Person Approach

    In this episode of Beyond The Pain, Leigh Brandon explores why many traditional pain treatment approaches fall short when they focus too narrowly on the painful area or rely too heavily on technique. While biomechanics, anatomy and hands-on skills all have their place, persistent pain often requires a broader, more human-centred approach. Pain is influenced not only by joints, muscles and movement, but also by stress, sleep, physiology, emotional load, nervous system protection, beliefs, fear and lifestyle. Leigh discusses why practitioners can sometimes misjudge the true drivers of pain by narrowing their assessment too quickly, and why lasting change usually requires more than applying the right technique to the painful site. This episode also explores the difference between treatment and transformation, and why the goal should not be to create dependency, but to help people participate more fully in their own recovery. In this episode, Leigh discusses: Why focusing only on the painful site can miss the bigger pictureThe difference between technique and true transformationHow sleep, stress, physiology and emotional load can influence persistent painWhy nervous system protection matters in chronic painHow practitioners can communicate without increasing fear or threatWhy client participation is essential for long-term recoveryPractical questions that can expand assessment beyond biomechanics alone Beyond The Pain: A Whole-Person Approach to Understanding Pain and Participating in RecoveryJoin the waitlist and get a free chapter:https://bodychek.co.uk/book-waitlist/ Pre-order the Kindle version on Amazon:https://amzn.to/4e0uAG6 Connect with Leigh Brandon:Beyond The Pain 14-Day Programme: https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/Pain-Free Plate Free Guide: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/Consult with Leigh: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation

    30 min
  5. Jun 15

    Chronic Pain Recovery: Where to Start When Pain Has Lasted for Years

    When pain has lasted for months or years, one of the hardest questions can be: where do I even start? By that point, many people have already tried stretching, strengthening, rest, treatment, scans, medication, posture changes, nervous system work, diet changes, supplements, and endless advice from practitioners, friends, family, and the internet. But instead of feeling clearer, many people feel more confused. In this solo episode, Leigh Brandon explores a more practical and grounded way to begin when persistent pain has been part of your life for a long time. Rather than offering a magic fix or one-size-fits-all solution, Leigh shares six key steps to help you move from overwhelm to orientation: Stop chasing everything at onceBuild your pain timelineRebuild the foundationsCalm the threat loadReintroduce movement intelligentlyGet the right supportThis episode is part of the launch series for Leigh’s new book, Beyond The Pain: A Whole-Person Approach to Understanding Pain and Participating in Recovery. The book is designed to help people understand pain differently, ask better questions, and participate more actively in their own recovery. You can find Leigh at: Beyond The Pain Book Free Chapter:https://bodychek.co.uk/book-waitlist/ Beyond The Pain 14-Day Programme:https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/ Pain-Free Plate Free Guide:https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/ Consult with Leigh:https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation/

    39 min
  6. Jun 8

    Chronic Pain Myths: Why Pain Doesn’t Always Mean Damage

    Chronic pain can be frightening enough on its own, but the stories people are told about their pain can sometimes make recovery feel even harder. In this solo episode of Beyond The Pain, Leigh Brandon explores some of the most common myths that keep people stuck in persistent pain — including the belief that pain always means damage, that the painful area must always be the true source of the problem, and that rest is always the best solution. Leigh explains why labels such as arthritis, degeneration, disc bulges, stenosis, muscle tightness, and “wear and tear” can sometimes shape how people see their bodies, often leading to fear, avoidance, and loss of confidence. This episode is not about ignoring pain or dismissing medical findings. It is about understanding pain in a more complete way — as a whole-person experience influenced by structure, movement, stress, inflammation, beliefs, emotional load, nervous system sensitivity, and more. In this episode, Leigh discusses: Why pain is not always a direct measure of damageHow diagnostic labels can influence fear and movement avoidanceWhy the site of pain is not always the source of the problemHow the body functions as an interconnected systemWhy excessive rest can sometimes make persistent pain worseHow better questions can lead to better recovery strategies This episode is for anyone who has been told their body is damaged, fragile, or broken — and wants to begin seeing pain through a more empowering, whole-person lens. Find Leigh here:Beyond The Pain book free chapter: https://bodychek.co.uk/book-waitlist/Beyond The Pain 14-Day Programme: https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/Pain-Free Plate Free Guide: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/Consult with Leigh: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation

    55 min
  7. Jun 1

    Why Pain Relief Isn’t Recovery: A Whole-Person Approach to Chronic Pain

    Pain relief matters — but is it the same as recovery? In this solo episode of Beyond The Pain, Leigh Brandon takes you behind the scenes of his new book, Beyond The Pain: A Whole-Person Approach to Understanding Pain and Participating in Recovery. After nearly three decades of working with people in persistent pain, Leigh shares why so many people experience temporary relief, only for their pain to return days, weeks, or months later. He explores why pain is often misunderstood when it is reduced to a body part, scan finding, diagnosis, posture issue, or single treatment approach. Through the story of Amelia, a client with recurring neck and shoulder pain, cervical spinal stenosis, fatigue, digestive issues, bloating and headaches, Leigh explains how structural, metabolic, lifestyle, emotional and nervous system factors can all interact to influence pain and recovery. This episode is not about blaming people for their pain. It is about helping people understand that they may have more influence over their recovery than they have been led to believe. In this episode, Leigh discusses: Why pain relief is not always the same as recoveryWhy persistent pain often returns after treatmentHow a diagnosis can be useful — but also limitingWhy pain should not always be viewed as a simple damage signalHow digestion, stress, inflammation, fatigue and movement patterns can all influence painWhy recovery often requires a whole-person frameworkThe difference between personal responsibility and blameWhy Beyond The Pain was writtenYou can find Leigh here: Beyond The Pain book Free Chapter:https://bodychek.co.uk/book-waitlist/ Beyond The Pain 14-Day Programme:https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/ Pain-Free Plate Free Guide:https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/ Consult with Leigh:https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation/

    30 min
  8. May 25

    Feldenkrais for Chronic Pain: Gentle Movement, Back Pain Relief & Mind-Body Healing with Beverly

    Chronic pain can take over your life, affecting how you move, think, feel, sleep, work and connect with the people around you. But what if part of the way forward was not forcing your body harder, but learning how to move with more awareness, ease and intelligence? In this episode of Beyond The Pain, Leigh Brandon speaks with Beverly, a certified Feldenkrais practitioner and founder of Pauseture, about how her own debilitating back pain led her away from the corporate world and into the Feldenkrais Method. After trying several approaches without lasting success, Beverly experienced a dramatic shift during her first Feldenkrais lesson. Through gentle movement and awareness, she discovered a new way of relating to her body — one that eventually helped her overcome pain, improve mobility and regulate her nervous system. In this conversation, Beverly explains how Feldenkrais can help people with chronic pain by improving body awareness, changing habitual movement patterns and helping the nervous system feel safer. You’ll hear about: Why chronic pain is not always solved by stretching, strengthening or “fixing” the painful areaHow gentle movement can help calm the nervous systemThe role of awareness in pain recoveryWhy forcing movement can sometimes make pain worseHow Feldenkrais differs from conventional exercise or therapyBeverly’s personal journey from severe back pain to becoming a practitionerHow Pauseture helps people bring mindful movement into everyday life If you have been living with persistent back pain, chronic pain, stiffness, tension or movement fear, this episode offers a hopeful and practical conversation about a different way to approach recovery. Beverly’s Details:Website: https://www.pauseture.com/Apple App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pauseture-mindful-movement/id6483941228Google Play App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.otrofy.pauseture&hl=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauseture/ Leigh’s Details:Beyond The Pain book Free Chapter: https://bodychek.co.uk/book-waitlist/Beyond The Pain 14-Day Programme: https://bodychek.co.uk/beyond-the-pain-programme/Pain-Free Plate Free Guide: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/Consult with Leigh: https://www.bodychek.co.uk/consultation

    1h 25m
5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Beyond The Pain is your guide to uncovering the real root causes of chronic pain and reclaiming a life without limits. Hosted by Leigh Brandon—Functional Medicine Practitioner, CHEK Faculty Instructor, and author with nearly 30 years of experience—this show explores the physical, emotional, nutritional, and environmental drivers of pain. Through expert interviews and solo insights, you’ll discover holistic strategies that heal, empower, and transform where conventional methods fall short.

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