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Advocacy & Communication Episodes

May 23, 2024

99. From News Anchor to Advocate: A POTS and EDS Journey with Summer …

Summer Dashe, a former news anchor and advocate for the chronically ill, shares her POTS and EDS journey. She covers how she manages her symptoms in everyday life and the challenges of getting diagnosed with POTS (Postural O...

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May 16, 2024

98. Environmental Triggers of Mast Cell Disease with Tania Dempsey, MD

*Please note that I misspoke during the introduction saying ME/CSF rather than ME/CFS. "CSF" is pretty hard wired in my brain after years and years as an anesthesiologist. Thank you for your understanding. Dr. Tania Dempse...

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May 9, 2024

97. Learning to Spot the Signs of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes with Guest …

In this special “EDS Awareness Month” episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast , founder Dr. Linda Bluestein and guest host Kate Colbert discuss how everyone can learn to spot the signs of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes. Dr. Bluestein em...

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April 25, 2024

96. Coping with Dance Injuries and Career Transitions with Chelsea Pi…

In this episode, Dr. Chelsea Pierotti discusses coping with dance injuries and transitions, both from a physical and psychological perspective. She explains that the way dancers appraise their injuries and their emotional res...

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April 4, 2024

94. Support and Bracing for Hypermobile Joints with Susan Chalela, MP…

In this Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD podcast, Susan Chalela, MPT discusses support and bracing for hypermobile joints. She shares how her personal and professional experience with joint hypermobility led her to dev...

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March 7, 2024

93. Unveiling Taming the Zebra: A Discussion with Physical Therapists…

This episode centers around unveiling 'Taming the Zebra', a book co-authored by physical therapists, Dr. Patty Stott and Heather Purdin.  The book aims to fill a void in understanding and provide therapists with the knowledge to effectively work with patients with hypermobility spectrum disorders (…

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Feb. 15, 2024

90. Decoding Brain Fog: Expert Insights with Ilene Ruhoy, MD, PhD

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Dr. Ilene Ruhoy about decoding brain fog, as well as its relationship to various conditions such as mast cell activation syndrome, craniocervical instability, dysautonomia, and CSF leaks. She explains how these conditions contribute to cognitive dysfu…

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Feb. 1, 2024

88. Service Dogs and Disability Rights with Tiffany Lee, JD

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Professor Tiffany Lee about service dogs and disability rights and accommodations. They discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act, the definition of disability, and disability benefits. They also explore reasonable accommodations in the workplace an…

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Jan. 24, 2024

87. Disordered Eating in Dance with Josh Spell, LICSW, and Guest Co-H…

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein and Jennifer Milner discuss the intersection of hypermobility and disordered eating in dance with their guest, Josh Spell. They explore the prevalence of eating disorders in dancers and the impact of social media and diet culture on body image. They also discuss…

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Jan. 18, 2024

86. The Unfair EDS Journey with Amanda Cassil, PhD

In this episode, Dr. Amanda Cassil discusses the unfair EDS journey. She covers the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare and provides strategies for effectively communicating with healthcare providers. She emphasizes the need for patients to slow down, regulate their nervous systems, and appr…

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Jan. 11, 2024

85. Making a MCAS Documentary with Drs. Weinstock, Dempsey, Bluestein…

The Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD podcast episode unfolds a substantive conversation among esteemed healthcare professionals actively engaged in a comprehensive initiative centered around Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Dysautonomia, and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD). This m…

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Dec. 14, 2023

82. The Impact of Clinician-Associated Trauma on EDS and HSD with Col…

Dr. Halverson discusses his research on the diagnostic odyssey and clinician-associated trauma on EDS. He highlights the challenges faced by patients, including the antagonistic relationship with healthcare professionals and the impact of self-doubt. Dr. Halverson emphasizes the importance of findi…

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Nov. 30, 2023

80. A Multidimensional Approach to EDS and HSD Care with Dacre Knight…

In this episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, a multidimensional approach to EDS and HSD care is discussed with guest, Dacre Knight, MD. Dr. Knight discusses his background and the multidisciplinary clinic at Mayo Clinic for hypermobility syndromes. He explains the use of echocardiograms and lab te…

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Nov. 16, 2023

79. Gastrointestinal Problems in Hypermobile EDS: Learning to Treat a…

In this episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, gastrointestinal problems in EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) is discussed with guest, Leonard Weinstock, MD. Dr. Leonard Weinstock discusses the connection between inflammation and restless leg syndrome, the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in EDS p…

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Nov. 9, 2023

78. Uncovering Inequality in Healthcare with Brianna Cardenas, DMSC, …

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Dr. Brianna Cardenas, a physician's assistant and certified athletic trainer, about inequality in EDS healthcare, the importance of diversity, and inclusion in healthcare. They discuss the impact of medical racism and the need for better care for marg…

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Oct. 19, 2023

76. Orofacial Pain with Robinson-Smith, DDS

Dr. Linda Bluestein interviews Dr. Julie Robinson-Smith about jaw pain and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). They discuss the difference between TMD and TMJ, the importance of understanding TMD for everyone, and the prevalence of jaw joint problems in the general population. They also explore how …

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Oct. 12, 2023

75. Cervical Instability: Thinking Beyond the Neck with Patty Stott, …

In this episode, YOUR guest is Patricia Stott, DPT , physical therapist with expertise in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and related conditions. Dr Stott and Dr Bluestein presented together on integrative approaches to pain managem...

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Oct. 5, 2023

74. Podcast Secrets and Sneak Peeks with Guest Host Kate Colbert

In this Bendy Bodies podcast episode, guest host Kate Colbert interviews Dr. Linda Bluestein about the evolution of her hypermobility EDS podcast (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes). They discuss Dr. Bluestein's career trajectory, her transition from aspiring dancer to anesthesiologist to EDS expert, and he…

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Aug. 31, 2023

73. Understanding Lower Extremity Pain with Pradeep Chopra, MD

The lower extremities must bear the weight of our whole bodies. Problems in the hip may cause a chain reaction of aches, imbalances, or chronic issues that could manifest in the knee, ankle, or somewhere else along the kineti...

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July 20, 2023

71. Examining Head, Spine, and Chest Pain with Pradeep Chopra, MD

Connective tissue runs throughout your body, surrounding and connecting every system. This is what makes treating issues that arise from connective tissue disorders so difficult: when everything is connected, it’s hard to fin...

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June 8, 2023

69. Traveling with a Chronic Disorder with Dr. Linda Bluestein, Krist…

Travel comes with a lot of uncertainty: flights get canceled, hotel reservations are lost, luggage never turns up. But add the complications of traveling with a chronic disorder like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and voyaging becom...

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May 25, 2023

68. Fostering Hope for Hypermobility with Cortney Gensemer, PhD, Vict…

Symptomatic joint hypermobility can be difficult to understand and can present in so many different ways. Recently, Victoria Daylor, Dr. Cortney Gensemer, Dr. Russell Norris, and Dr. Linda Bluestein published a CME two-part s...

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May 11, 2023

67. Destigmatizing Eating Disorders with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani

Eating disorders are complicated and not uncommon in artistic athletes. Common comorbidities of symptomatic joint hypermobility (SJH), like mast cell activation disorder (MCAD) or gastroparesis, may contribute to disordered e...

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April 20, 2023

66. Codifying Upper Cervical Instability with Leslie Russek, DPT, PhD

Upper cervical instability (UCI) occurs quite commonly in the mild form and more rarely in the severe form in those with symptomatic generalized joint hypermobility (S-GJH). Both can be impactful and are frequently missed. ...

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