trailer

trailer
Published on:

8th Jan 2026

Welcome to Unpacking Pain

What if chronic pain isn’t only a body problem, but a biology–psychology–social puzzle you can learn to solve?

Meet your guides: Dr. Megan Steele, a physical therapist and pain science researcher, and Holly, a long‑time pain experiencer with a thousand practical questions. Together, they break persistent pain into clear, human terms. You’ll hear candid stories, simple explanations of what’s happening in your brain and body, and small daily practices you can try right away.

What you’ll get:

  1. Plain‑language science that makes pain make sense
  2. Real-life tools to reduce fear and build confidence
  3. Support for people living with pain, their families, and the clinicians who care for them
  4. A community grounded in empathy, curiosity, and action

Join us on February 2nd, 2026 to start understanding your pain and taking back more of your life.

Transcript
Megan:

Hi, welcome to the Unpacking Pain podcast, a podcast dedicated to unpacking the three legged stool of persistent pain.

We'll be talking about the biology, what's actually happening in your physical body, the psychology, your thoughts and feelings around it, and the social factors affecting persistent pain. I'm joined by my amazing co host, Holly, who is a persistent pain sufferer herself.

Holly:

Thanks, Dr. Megan. Well, I feel lucky to be in your presence because I've already learned so much from you.

So my, my life has been really unfortunately and in some ways very fortunately, there's silver linings to everything shaped around 26 years of a pain journey.

And you know, as I continue finding ways to get through it, I feel very fortunate to be partnered with Dr. Megan Steele, who is a doctorate of physical therapy as well as a pain science researcher.

And together the two of us are really representing the yin yang of exploring chronic pain, if you will, because I have a thousand and one questions about this lived experience of walking around in chronic pain and trying to make life even better and thrive in spite of it. And Dr. Megan is here to help us understand what's actually going on in our brains and our bodies as we live our lives with chronic pain.

And our aim is through real stories of life and, you know, the blood, sweat and tears of moving through life with chronic pain, as well as what the research is telling us and what Dr. Megan is experiencing in the lab.

But we're going to help you come to a much greater understanding of your own pain or your own practice around improving your life or the lives of others who are experiencing persistent pain. Absolutely.

Megan:

Knowledge is power and we hope to impart you with not only a better understanding of your persistent pain or your family member's persistent pain, but also things that you can do daily to help yourself along your journey.

Holly:

So stick with us for the empathy, the compassion, the understanding, the real stories where we get very candid and the science that's going to help you understand and learn and grow.

Listen for free

Show artwork for Unpacking Pain

About the Podcast

Unpacking Pain
Exploring the biological, psychological and social aspects of chronic pain.
Unpacking Pain is a podcast about chronic pain - what causes it, how it affects our lives, and what we can do about it. Hosted by a pain scientist and a pain sufferer, it blends evidence-based science with lived experience to offer support, education, and empowerment.

If you’ve ever felt unseen in your pain journey, know that you are not alone. Join us on Unpacking Pain as we peel back the layers of the chronic pain experience - where science meets story, and where knowledge opens doors to healing.

Each week, Dr. Megan Steele, PT, DPT, PhD(c), and Holly Osborne, a chronic pain sufferer, sit down to explore the “three-legged stool” of chronic pain: the biological, psychological, and social. Together they demystify the science, share personal stories, and engage in candid conversations about the mind-body connection, treatment approaches, and the realities of living with and managing pain.

What makes Unpacking Pain different is its unique yin-yang approach: Megan brings deep expertise in pain research and clinical practice, while Holly offers the raw honesty of 26 years of lived experience navigating chronic pain. Together, they create a space that is empathetic, candid, and enlightening.

Topics include:
- The neuroscience of pain and why it isn’t “all in your head”
- Evidence-based pain management strategies that work in daily life
- Practical strategies for coping and thriving with chronic pain
- How stress, trauma, and emotions shape our pain journey
- Stories of resilience, breakthroughs, and hope

Whether you are living with chronic pain, supporting someone who is, or working as a health professional, this podcast offers insights that validate, educate, and inspire. Our goal is not just to explain chronic pain but to reframe it - making room for understanding, empowerment, and possibility.

Your voice matters, we would love for you to send us your questions or share your story with us at unpackingpain@gmail.com. Together we can shed light on the realities of chronic pain, unpack the issues, and discover new ways forward.

https://unpackingpainpodcast.com

About your hosts

Megan Steele

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Megan Steele is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Pain Science Researcher.

Holly Osborne

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Holly has suffered from chronic pain for over 26 years.