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Advocacy & Communication Episodes

March 5, 2026

What to Treat First When Everything Is Flaring with Dr. Dacre Knight …

There is no magic treatment for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, or mast cell activation disorders, but there is strategy. In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dacre Knight, MD, founding Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, for a pract…

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Feb. 19, 2026

Why Doctors Miss EDS, POTS, and MCAS with Dr. Dacre Knight (Ep 184)

Why are people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, POTS, and mast cell disorders so frequently misdiagnosed, or dismissed entirely? In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Dacre Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, for a wide-ran…

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Feb. 12, 2026

Pelvic Pain in EDS: What Doctors Miss and Why It Matters with Dr Rach…

Pelvic pain, bladder symptoms, and sexual health concerns are incredibly common in people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, yet they’re often misunderstood, dismissed, or treated in isolation.In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Rachel Rubin, a board-certified urolo…

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Feb. 5, 2026

The Biggest Mistake in EDS Care and How to Fix It with Dr. Ina Stephe…

What would it look like if people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome finally had a true medical home?In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Ina Stephens and Dr. Dacre Knight to share the story behind the newly launched University of Virginia Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Center…

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Jan. 29, 2026

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: The Diagnosis Most Doctors Miss with D…

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is one of the most misunderstood, and underrecognized, conditions in modern medicine. In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Lawrence Afrin, one of the world’s leading experts on mast cell disease, to unpack why MCAS is so often missed, why tryptase alon…

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Jan. 22, 2026

When Eye Exams Miss the Real Problem in EDS with Dr. Eric Singman (Ep…

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Eric Singman, a neuro-ophthalmologist who lives at the intersection of the eyes, the brain, and the complex symptoms so many people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome experience. They dig into why EDS patients often struggle with vision even when every…

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Jan. 15, 2026

Chronic Pain, Focus, and the Brain Shift Psychedelics Reveal with Dr.…

In this expansive and deeply affirming conversation, Linda Bluestein and Shimi Kang explore a powerful idea: true healing comes from connection, not control—especially when living with chronic pain, nervous system dysregulation, or complex, overlapping conditions.They unpack the neuroscience of…

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Jan. 8, 2026

What If It’s Not IBS or Anxiety? A Vascular Surgeon Explains with Dr.…

What if your chronic pain, bloating, or fatigue wasn’t in your head, but in your blood vessels? In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with vascular surgeon Dr. Robert Hacker, who’s on the front lines of diagnosing and treating complex conditions like MALS (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome)…

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Dec. 18, 2025

POTS Revisited: Embolization, GLP-1 & Daily Management with Dr. Alexi…

In this info-packed episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with cardiologist Dr. Alexis Cutchins, an expert in pelvic venous disease (PVD) and POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome). Their conversation tackles one of the most misunderstood vascular conditions in complex patients. From tre…

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Dec. 11, 2025

What No One Tells You About Pregnancy with EDS | Office Hours (Ep 174)

Think EDS and pregnancy is a straightforward conversation? Think again. In this jam-packed Office Hours episode, I dig into everything I wish someone had told me and everything I’ve since learned from patients, research, and my own pregnancies. From racing heart rates and failed epidurals to postpa…

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Dec. 4, 2025

Why Are So Many People Misdiagnosed With TMJ Disorders? With Professo…

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Professor Tara Renton, a globally recognized expert in orofacial pain, to explore the nuanced world of facial pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and migraine disorders. Together, they unpack why so many patients are misdiagnosed with T…

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Nov. 25, 2025

The Truth About Ballet Bodies with ABTs Skylar Brandt

In this raw and uncompromising conversation, Dr. Linda Bluestein and co-host Jennifer Milner sit down with Skylar Brandt, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, for a gripping look at what it truly takes to perform at the highest level. Skylar pulls back the curtain on the physical and psyc…

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Nov. 20, 2025

From Nitrous to Nerves: MTHFR, CRPS & Cervical Collars Unpacked | Off…

In this solo episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein brings on her producers to help unpack the hidden complications that can follow seemingly routine medical procedures. From the lingering effects of breast surgery to the controversial use of nitrous oxide, Dr. Bluestein explores how standard treatments can …

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Nov. 13, 2025

When Surgery Isn’t Simple: What hEDS Patients Should Know Before Goin…

In this solo episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein brings on her producers to ask your most pressing questions about what it’s really like to live with and treat Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). From the pitfalls of internet misinformation to what hEDS patients should …

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Nov. 6, 2025

Could Psychiatric Symptoms Be Hiding a Physical Illness? with Dr. Jan…

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Janet Settle to unpack the medical mystery that is mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and why it may be hiding in plain sight as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or even psychosis. Together, they explore how …

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Oct. 30, 2025

From Palliative Care to Purpose: The Tilly Rose Story (Ep 168)

In this emotionally charged episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein talks with Tilly Rose, the founder of That Oxford Girl and the author of Be Patient, about what it’s like to face palliative care as a young adult and come out the other side fighting for change. They explore how Tilly transformed her private…

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Oct. 2, 2025

Are You Being Gaslit About Hormones and Health? | Office Hours (Ep 16…

In this raw and reflective Office Hours episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein responds to listener feedback and dives deep into the cultural and clinical gaslighting faced by people, especially women, navigating complex health conditions. From the dismissal of perimenopause to the rise of so-called “TikTok …

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Sept. 22, 2025

Hypermobility Problems with Anesthesiologist Dr. Linda Bluestein | Gl…

In honor of Pain Awareness Month, I wanted to share an episode of one of my favorite healthcare podcasts, “Knock Knock Hi with the Glaucomfleckens.” In this interview from last July, Will and Kristin Flanary (AKA Dr. and Lady Glaucomflecken) kindly invited me on to talk about my journey from ballet…

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Aug. 28, 2025

Truth Bombs & Backlash with Kate Colbert (Ep 159)

After a wave of passionate listener feedback sparked intense conversations behind the scenes, The Bendy Bodies Podcast returns with a candid and heartfelt follow-up. In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by author and communications expert Kate Colbert to openly address backlash about rece…

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Aug. 14, 2025

Discussing Your Feedback: Pain, Autism & hEDS Diagnostic Criteria | O…

In the season five finale of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein reflects on powerful listener feedback and opens up important conversations about language, intent, and identity in medicine. She clarifies the purpose behind episodes on pain neuroscience and mast cells in autism, acknowled…

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Aug. 12, 2025

Can Pain Education Lessen Chronic Pain with Adriaan Louw, DPT? (Ep 15…

In this illuminating episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with pain neuroscientist and physical therapist Dr. Adriaan Louw to explore the power of education in managing chronic pain. With a passion for helping people understand the "why" behind their symptoms, Dr. Louw…

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July 24, 2025

Gluten, MTHFR, Mast Cells, and More | Office Hours (Ep 155)

In this solo episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein tackles a series of complex listener questions originally submitted by clinicians after her guest appearance on The Curbsiders internal medicine podcast. From the flaws in the EDS diagnostic criteria to the misunderstood role of …

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July 3, 2025

What Can Difficulty Swallowing and Voice Fatigue Mean? (Ep 152)

Speech-language pathologist and vocal specialist Stacy Menton joins Dr. Linda Bluestein to expose the surprising links between connective tissue disorders like EDS and common (but misunderstood) issues with voice, breathing, and swallowing. From overlooked diagnostics to cutting-edge therapies and …

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June 26, 2025

Mast Cells: Friend or Foe? with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides (Ep 151)

What if your brain fog, fatigue, and hypersensitivity weren’t “just anxiety”—but signs of a much deeper immune malfunction?In this episode, Dr. Pradeep Chopra co-hosts a rare and revealing conversation with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, the scientist who first discovered that mast cells communicat…

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