In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with licensed professional counselor, EMDR therapist, and neurofeedback provider Eileen Borski to explore the powerful connection between the brain, body, and performance. Eileen shares how her work helps athletes and high performers reduce stress, improve focus, and support recovery by addressing the nervous system at its root.

Eileen also shares her personal journey from corporate finance to counseling, and how a desire to help people on a deeper level led her to brain-based therapy. She explains how neurofeedback can support athletes dealing with anxiety, attention challenges, and pain, and why a holistic, individualized approach is essential for meaningful change.

Together, Dana and Eileen discuss:

• Why the nervous system plays such a big role in pain and performance.

• How neurofeedback supports focus, recovery, and emotional regulation.

• The impact of stress, pressure, and choice on young athletes.

• How pain can be influenced by both physical and emotional factors.

• Why a whole-person approach leads to better outcomes.

Eileen also shares memorable client success stories, including athletes and high performers who found relief from anxiety, improved focus, and greater confidence through neurofeedback and brain-body work. Her perspective offers a hopeful reminder that healing and performance are often connected in ways we can learn to influence.

About Eileen:

Eileen Borski is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified EMDR Therapist, Certified Neurofeedback Provider, and holds a Certification in Neuropsychotherapy specializing in brain-based approaches to mental health and peak performance. As the founder of Authentic Brain Solutions, she works with individuals—including athletes and high performers—to optimize nervous system function, improve focus, enhance recovery, and break through mental barriers. With a background in corporate leadership and advanced training in neurocounseling, Eileen bridges the gap between brain science and real-world performance, helping clients build resilience, regulate stress, and perform at their best—both mentally and physically. She offers in person care, including neurofeedback and EMDR, at her office in Conroe, Texas. In addition, she provides telehealth counseling, including EMDR, throughout Texas, Florida, South Carolina and New Hampshire.

Eileen's Links:

Follow Authentic Brain Solutions:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/authenticbrainsolutions

Instagram: https://instagram.com/authenticbrainsolutions

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/authenticbrainsolutions

Website: https://authenticbrainsolutions.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthenticBrainSolutions

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones welcomes Dr. Tawny Kross, a physical therapist and pain and wellness coach, for an in-depth conversation on the integration of psychology into physical therapy. Together, they explore how understanding pain from a psychological perspective can transform treatment, the impact of stress on pain management, and how pain perception evolves over time. Dr. Kross shares her experiences working with veterans and highlights the unique challenges they face with chronic pain. The discussion underscores the importance of a holistic approach to pain management—one that embraces emotional healing, body awareness, and the mind-body connection for lasting wellness.

• Podcast Website: painfreeathletepodcast.com
• Guest: Dr. Tawny Kross
• • Website: drtawnykross.com
  • Instagram: @dr.tawny.kross

• • Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/dr.tawny.kross⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

Replay ep 89: Run Smarter, Stay Stronger – Injury Prevention & the Mind-Body Connection with Denise Smith

What if the key to running stronger, longer, and pain-free had less to do with mileage—and more to do with how you move?

In this replay episode, I sit down with physical therapist and movement expert Denise Smith to break down what most athletes are missing when it comes to performance and injury prevention.

With over 20 years of experience, Denise shares how analyzing movement patterns, improving balance, and training reaction time can completely change the way you run—and help you avoid the injuries that sideline so many athletes.

But we didn’t stop there…

This conversation goes deeper into the mind-body connection, the role of mental health in performance, and why athletes—especially endurance athletes—need more than just a training plan to truly thrive.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why most runners are undertraining balance (and why it matters more than you think)
• How learning to fall safely could actually prevent serious injuries
• The difference between overuse vs. misuse injuries
• Simple ways to improve reaction time and agility (no fancy equipment needed)
• What ultra runners can teach us about grit, identity, and mental toughness
• Why building a support team (PT, mental health, nutrition) is a game-changer
• How fear, pain, and mindset can keep you stuck—and how to break that cycle

Denise's Bio:

Denise Smith has been a physical therapist for over 20 years and has spent her years obtaining certifications that allow her to treat each patient as an individual with a focus on hands-on manual therapy techniques, functional movement patterns, and advanced treatment of athletes of all levels. She specializes in treating runners with a focus on running technique teaching with the use of video analysis and individualized drills to teach proper movement to help runners run faster, run longer, and run without pain. Denise believes our bodies were made to move and sitting is a disease that will cause long term damage to our bodies.

Denise's Links:

• ⁠Website⁠
• ⁠LinkedIn⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠Facebook⁠

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this insightful interview, Dr. Trevor Turner shares his journey from trauma surgery to regenerative orthopedics, emphasizing innovative treatments like PRP and laser therapy. Discover how personalized, minimally invasive approaches are transforming musculoskeletal care and empowering patients to regain mobility and avoid surgery.

Dr Trevor’s Bio:

Dr. Trevor Turner is a nationally recognized physician specializing in regenerative orthopedics, biologic therapies, and performance-focused musculoskeletal care. As the founder of CartiNova™, he has treated elite athletes, high-performance professionals, and active adults seeking minimally invasive alternatives to orthopedic surgery.

Dr. Turner’s work bridges sports medicine, regenerative biologics, precision diagnostics, and recovery science, forming the clinical foundation of the CartiNova system.

Dr. Turner attended UT Southwestern Medical School, completed a General Surgery internship at UCSF, and finished his Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he participated in ACL injury research with the American Sports Medicine Institute.

He then spent four years training under Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, caring for professional and collegiate athletes, Olympic competitors, military special operations personnel, and active adults seeking elite-level musculoskeletal care.

Dr. Turner founded CartiNova to bring together precision laser technology, advanced biologic medicine, and movement-based diagnostics with athlete-level rehabilitation principles, creating a comprehensive approach to long-term joint and spine preservation.

His goal is to make advanced regenerative care, once reserved for elite athletes, accessible to individuals seeking to move better, heal more efficiently, and avoid unnecessary surgery.

Dr. Trevor’s Links:

Cartinova - Regenerative Orthopedics - https://cartinova.com/

Dr. Trevor Turner on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-turner

PRP Therapy Explained - https://www.healthline.com/health/prp-therapy

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Tracy Kasper, founder of One Small Step Walks. Tracy shares her personal health journey, including her experiences with an autoimmune disease and the dietary changes that helped her regain control of her health. The conversation explores the importance of community in movement, the benefits of walking, and how to create a supportive environment for those looking to improve their health. Tracy emphasizes the significance of consistency over perfection and offers practical tips for starting a walking routine.

About Traci

Traci is the founder of One Small Step Walks, a community-driven movement helping women take small, intentional steps toward growth, resilience, and momentum. Through lived experience navigating health challenges and major life disruptions, she teaches the power of habits, mindset, and community in creating lasting change.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesmallstepwalks?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Seren Jones, co-founder of the Black Swimming Association (BSA). They discuss the importance of water safety, the differences between swimming and water safety education, and the challenges faced by Black and minority communities in accessing swimming resources. Seren shares insights on the demographics most at risk for drowning, the psychological barriers to learning how to swim, and the cultural myths surrounding swimming in the Black community. The conversation emphasizes the need for community outreach, education, and the therapeutic aspects of learning to swim.

About Seren:

Seren Jones is a multi award-winning journalist specialising in documentaries and podcasts. She has hosted, produced and written mini series for some of the audio industry's biggest platforms including Wondery, Apple, BBC Sounds and Audible. Her original podcast series, Black and Blue: Behind the Badge, was recognised at the British Podcast Awards in the 'Best Factual' category. Seren holds BAFTA and ARIAS nominations, and has been named as one of the Radio Academy's 30 Under 30 finalists, as well as one of PodPod's Faces to Watch.
Beyond journalism, Seren is co-founder of the Black Swimming Association (BSA), an award-winning charity set up to raise awareness of water safety and drowning prevention. She has also spoken on a number of panels on issues involving news, Welsh affairs, and race, gender and equality in sport.

The BSA is a non-profit organisation, set up to diversify the world of aquatics through consultancy, advocacy, research, education and support to ensure that people of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage have equitable, safe access to vital water safety, drowning prevention and all the benefits of engaging in aquatics, from boardroom to grassroots.

The organisation works with government agencies, governing bodies, lifesaving authorities, brands, charities, sports councils, local government authorities, leisure operators, research and educational institutions to promote diversity and inclusion in aquatics for all communities.

Seren’s Links:

https://thebsa.co.uk/

https://www.serentljones.com/

https://www.instagram.com/blackswimmingassociation/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHM7h-64_XchbCi_fCcT2Rg

https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebsa/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with registered dietitian Stephanie Natchik about the critical role of nutrition in athletic performance. They discuss the evolution of athlete nutrition awareness, the impact of chronic stress on nutritional needs, and the importance of protein and energy availability for athletes. Stephanie shares practical steps for balancing nutrition and recovery, optimal meal timing, and the unique fueling needs of swimmers. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of proper nutrition for enhancing performance and overall health.

About Stephanie:

Stephanie Hnatiuk is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer, and Certified Running Coach with over a decade of experience helping thousands of runners improve performance, optimize body composition, and move away from restrictive or dysfunctional approaches to food and exercise.

Website:

http://www.stephaniehnatiuk.com/

Fuel Run Recover Podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/64EncO2Vt3y9l4as6D6rxa?si=be7c6e6fadab4f9a

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.