Pain to Performance

About Pain to Performance

Pain shows up everywhere. In our bodies, in our work, and in the way we perform every day. Pain to Performance is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth conversations with industry experts across health, pain reduction, sports, and workplace wellbeing. Each episode explores how pain actually functions in the body and mind, why it is often misunderstood, and how reducing it can unlock stronger, more sustainable performance. Hosted by Bradlee Morgan, the show brings together clinicians, performance specialists, and business professionals to examine how physical stress, mental load, movement, and environment impact how we work, move, and live. Sometimes those perspectives align. Sometimes they challenge each other. Always, they provide insight you can apply. This is not a podcast about pushing harder or ignoring discomfort. It is about understanding the signals your body and nervous system are sending and using that information to perform better at work, in sport, and in everyday life. Because when pain is understood, performance follows.

Publisher

Bradlee Morgan

Category

business · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

19 Dec 2025

Latest episode

17 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

16 of 19 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   17 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Skip the Ortho Maze: How One Doctor Is Fixing Orthopedic Care in America

   Host Bradley Morgan interviews orthopedic specialist Dr. Tom Weber about revolutionizing orthopedic care by bypassing traditional delays and costs for faster, more effective treatment.

2. 

   10 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Your Partner Changed. So Why Are You Still Angry? The 7 Relationship Fears Nobody Talks About

   Host Bradley Morgan interviews licensed marriage and family therapist Jeff Shore about navigating relationship fears and desires when a partner changes, offering insights for deeper connection.

3. 

   3 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Messy Middle: Why You Stopped Loving Work and How to Get It Back

   Host Bradlee Morgan interviews keynote speaker Jenn Whitmer about reclaiming joy in work by understanding the "messy middle" and prioritizing purpose.

4. 

   27 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   What You Said Is Not What They Heard: A Psychotherapist Breaks Down Why

   Host Bradley Morgan interviews psychotherapist Dr. Patricia Timmerman about bridging the gap between communication intention and perception to improve relationships.

5. 

   20 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Pride Kept Him In, Fear Kept Him Stuck: A Pastor Turned Business Owner's Breaking Point

   Host Bradley Morgan interviews Jordan Berry, founder of Laundromat Resource, about overcoming pride and fear to rebuild his laundromat business after leaving ministry.

6. 

   13 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Stop Fighting Your Body: How to Heal When the Medical System Leaves You Behind

   Host Bradley Morgan interviews Dr. Laura Glazebrook, a physical therapist and spinal fusion survivor, about healing beyond medical limitations and embracing radical acceptance for recovery.

7. 

   8 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   It's Not Just Physical: How Stress, Shame, and Silence Are Killing Your Sex Life

   Host Bradley Morgan interviews licensed professional counselor Mark Prevet about how stress and trauma impact sexual health, offering insights into nervous system responses and practical tools for recovery.

8. 

   8 May 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Stop Forcing It: How One Tissue System Controls Your Pain, Posture, and Performance

   You are doing the reps. You are following the program. And you are still in pain. What if the problem was never your muscles at all? In this episode of Pain to Performance, host Bradley Morgan sits down with Shari Zisk, a human kinetics graduate, level four MELT Method instructor, and former bodybuilder who spent over 20 years in traditional fitness before discovering that fascia changed everything she thought she knew about the human body. Together they break down what fascia actually is, why it matters more than most trainers and even medical professionals realize, and how dehydrated fascial tissue creates mystery pain, restricted mobility, poor posture, and nervous system fatigue. Shari shares how a simple 30-minute hand and foot technique helped a man raise his arms overhead for the first time in three years, and why force and deep pressure are not always the answer. Brad validates these findings from his own neuromuscular therapy practice and together they give you practical steps you can start tonight: body scans to find asymmetries and tension, gentle compression techniques, fascial lengthening versus traditional stretching, and why seeing a fascia-informed manual therapist is the gold standard. If you have been grinding through workouts, pushing through pain, and blaming yourself for not getting better, this is the episode that reframes everything. Topics covered: fascia, fascial hydration, MELT Method, myofascial release, chronic pain, mystery pain, nervous system regulation, posture correction, dehydrated tissue, foam rolling, mobility training, mind-body connection, personal training, neuromuscular therapy, injury recovery, workout recovery, fitness misconceptions, hyaluronic acid, stuck stress, body scan techniques To connect with Shari Zisk: (http://www.sherryzisk.com)www.Sharizisk.com (http://www.Sharizisk.com) | Instagram: @trainerShari Follow, subscribe, and leave a review. If this episode changed how you think about your body, send it to the person who is grinding, hurting, and blaming themselves. They deserve to know there is another way.

9. 

   8 Apr 2026

   The Day a Student Took Everything: One Life Rebuilt

   Host [Host Name] interviews Sarah Alepin, a former teacher, as she shares her journey of rebuilding her life after a devastating physical assault and subsequent PTSD.

10. 

    1 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Eat Less, Move More Is a Lie

    She cut the carbs, trained for triathlons, did CrossFit at 5:30 a.m., and tracked every calorie. And it worked — until it didn't. The weight came back, the brain fog rolled in, and no matter how hard she pushed, her body just stopped cooperating. The worst part wasn't the scale. It was the voice that said, what's wrong with me? Sue Soha is a physical therapist, women's wellness coach, and founder of Wholey Healed Community. She's also someone who spent years doing everything she was told — and still hit a wall she couldn't push through. After being diagnosed with celiac disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, ADHD, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sue had to throw out the old playbook entirely and rebuild her approach to health from the ground up. In this episode, Sue breaks down what actually changed when she flipped the food pyramid upside down, dropped sugar, and stopped treating cardio like the answer to everything. She shares how she lost four dress sizes and 10% body fat — not by pushing harder, but by finally listening to what her body had been trying to tell her all along. We dig into why the "eat less, move more" approach fails women in perimenopause. Why most weight loss research was done on male bodies and younger women — and why that matters more than most people realize. Why lifting heavy won't make you bulky, why your body holds onto fat when you starve it, and why the kitchen matters more than the gym for women navigating midlife. Sue also gets real about perfectionism, people-pleasing, and what happens when your stress response never turns off. We talk about the mind-body connection, how fear shows up physically, and why the body truly does keep the score. If you've been eating less and moving more and wondering why nothing's changed — especially past 35 — this episode is your permission slip to stop blaming yourself and start playing by the rules that were actually written for you. Connect with Sue Soha: Wholey Healed Community:wholeyhealed.com (http://wholeyhealed.com) Special Settings Physical Therapy: specialsettingspt.com (http://specialsettingspt.com) Listen to Pain to Performance on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Website: paintoperformancepodcast.com (http://paintoperformancepodcast.com)

11. 

    27 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Make The Decision Already

    You've been there. You had all the information, but you still couldn't pull the trigger. You kept looking for one more opinion, one more data point, one more sign that you were making the right call. And while you were running back and forth between options — the window closed. That's not a confidence problem. It's a process problem. LaKiesha Tomlin is a mechanical engineer turned technical leader and founder of the Profitable Traders Academy. She spent over a decade in aerospace and tech leading global teams — and she used to be the person who couldn't answer "tell me about a time you made a decision with limited information" in a job interview. That frustration sent her on a months-long journey through her own notebooks, career stories, and past decisions to reverse-engineer what actually works when the pressure is on and the data isn't all there. What she built is a six-step decision-making framework rooted in real experience — not theory. In this episode, LaKiesha walks through every step: embracing uncertainty, committing to decide, sorting decisions by actual stakes, executing without second-guessing, knowing when to pivot, and closing the loop with honest feedback. It's the kind of structure that sounds simple on paper — until you realize almost nobody actually follows it. We get into why most people burn level-two brainpower on level-one decisions. Why the classroom habit of needing to be 100% right before raising your hand follows us straight into the boardroom. Why more information and more time almost never lead to better outcomes — and why the real cost of waiting isn't a bad decision, it's the opportunity that disappeared while you were thinking about it. LaKiesha shares the story of a media opportunity she let pass because she didn't feel ready — and how that moment became one of the clearest lessons in her career. We also talk about what it means to be confidently wrong, why that's a better strategy than being quietly right, and how an iterative feedback loop turns every decision into proof that you can trust yourself next time. If you're stuck right now — on a career move, a business decision, or something you've been "sleeping on" for months — this one's for you. You already have the answer. Make the decision already. Connect with LaKiesha Tomlin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chartconfidence/ (https://www.instagram.com/chartconfidence/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakieshatomlin/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakieshatomlin/) Listen to Pain to Performance on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Website: paintoperformancepodcast.com (http://paintoperformancepodcast.com)

12. 

    19 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

    You're Not Bad at Relationships. You're Just Carrying Something That Was Never Yours.

    Licensed clinical social worker Andrew Wallace interviews host Brad about how inherited generational patterns, not personal flaws, shape adult relationships and how to break these cycles.

13. 

    11 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT

    You're Not Lazy. Your Brain Just Hasn't Been Given the Right Framework.

    You made the list. You had the plan. You were ready. And then Friday came and almost none of it got done. And instead of asking what went wrong, you just decided something was wrong with you. That story is one of the most common things Brianna Perry hears when someone walks into her office for the first time. They come in saying they're overwhelmed, they can't focus, they feel like they're failing at everything quietly while the rest of the world thinks they have it all together. And what she finds underneath all of that, almost every single time, is not a lack of discipline. It's shame. And shame, as she explains in this episode, is not just a feeling. It is a neurological event that is actively keeping your brain from doing the thing you desperately want it to do. In this conversation, Brianna breaks down the real science behind why your productivity crashes, what ADHD and dopamine deficiency actually look like in high achievers, and why the to-do list was never the problem in the first place. She introduces her INCUP motivator framework, a practical tool for understanding why certain tasks feel impossible and how to actually get them done without the shame spiral that follows. And she ends with one of the most grounding takeaways this show has ever delivered: get clear on your why, because without it, no system, no habit stack, and no planner is ever going to stick. This one is for the person who has tried everything and still feels stuck. The person who is crushing it on the outside and quietly falling apart on the inside. The person who just needs someone to tell them the truth: you are not broken. Your brain just needs a better framework. About Brianna Perry: Brianna Perry is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Rooted Swan Wellness, a practice dedicated to helping high-achieving individuals break through the cycles of burnout, shame, and chronic overwhelm. She specializes in ADHD, trauma-informed care, and identity-based therapeutic work. RootedSwanWellness.com (http://www.RootedSwanWellness.com) Instagram: @RootedSwanWellness (https://www.instagram.com/rootedswanwellness) Topics covered: ADHD in high achievers, dopamine and motivation, shame and the nervous system, INCUP motivator framework, habit stacking, burnout recovery, productivity and focus, therapy for overwhelm, mental health for high performers, licensed clinical social worker, Rooted Swan Wellness, Brianna Perry, Pain to Performance podcast

14. 

    28 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

    He Survived Two Heart Transplants. What He Did Next Will Change How You Think About Time.

    Host [Host Name] interviews Lester E. Crowell Jr., a two-time heart transplant recipient, about transforming his life-threatening experiences into purpose-driven action and valuing every moment.

15. 

    18 Feb 2026

    Why AI Isn't Replacing You | It's the Secret to Unlocking Your Business's True Potential

    Unlock the secret to thriving in a world obsessed with AI—without losing your human edge—by focusing on energy, clarity, and sustainable growth. If you're a business owner feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the grind, this episode is your blueprint to transforming your approach with human-first AI that enhances productivity, preserves your well-being, and boosts your business scalability. Discover how AI is not just about chatbots or automation—it's about empowering your human potential. Tanya Ferguson, founder of Clear Brook AI Solutions, reveals how a human-first strategy keeps you in control, reduces burnout, and turns technology into your top team member. She shares real-world success stories, including a company that added $70K in savings and doubled growth without layoffs, simply by streamlining communication and processes. Learn how to identify bottlenecks and leverage AI to eliminate low-value tasks, freeing up hours and mental space for what truly matters—vision, creativity, and leadership. In this episode, you’ll uncover: Why most business owners are bottlenecked by their own success and how AI can fix that Practical steps to implement AI smoothly with minimal disruption The foundational importance of human relationships in tech-driven environments How to reframe AI as a tool for promotion, not replacement Simple, actionable techniques like brain dumps to gain clarity and reduce overwhelm Whether you're skeptical about AI or curious about its potential, Tanya's approachable, practical insights will shift your perspective. She emphasizes curiosity over chaos—showing how a little understanding and some strategic conversations with your team can unlock exponential growth without sacrificing your purpose. Don’t let fear of change hold you back—this episode will inspire you to harness AI as an ally for sustainable success. Perfect for entrepreneurs ready to protect their energy, elevate their performance, and future-proof their business. Your most human, energized, and scalable self is just one conversation away. About Our Guest: Tanya Ferguson is the visionary founder of Clear Brook AI Solutions, a company dedicated to integrating AI with a human-first approach. With a passion for helping businesses thrive, Tanya offers a complimentary FIT Check—a free 15-minute call to determine if an AI audit is suitable for your company. Connect with Tanya at Clear Brook AI Solutions (http://www.clearbrookaisolutions.com/)or reach out via email at tferguson@clearbrookaisolutions.com (mailto:tferguson@clearbrookaisolutions.com).

16. 

    11 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Why Feeling Better Keeps Failing You

    Most people mistake temporary relief for real progress—and end up right back where they started. But what if feeling better was just the beginning, not the finish line? In this eye-opening episode, Bradlee Morgan reveals the crucial difference between symptom relief and systemic change, and why chasing relief alone keeps you stuck in a cycle of recurring pain and setbacks. Imagine understanding why your body reacts the way it does — like antibiotics not just masking an infection but actually changing your body's response. Bradlee shares compelling stories from his own experience with strep, illustrating how stopping treatment early can worsen the problem, and how the body learns over time to respond faster to stress and pain. You’ll discover how temporary fixes—like distracting yourself or relying on support—only quiet symptoms temporarily, without strengthening the system. Without this insight, most are doomed to repeat the cycle, mistaking relief for resolution. We break down: The difference between symptom relief, distraction, support, and true system change Why normal isn’t necessarily healthy, and how returning to old habits can reinforce problems Practical strategies to slow down and create lasting change instead of rushing to feel normal How pain and discomfort are signals, not enemies, and how to interpret them for growth A powerful shift in mindset: from “getting rid of pain” to “building capacity for resilience” If you’re tired of recurring setbacks and ready to unlock a more capable, resilient version of yourself, this episode is for you. It’s perfect for athletes, health enthusiasts, therapists, or anyone tired of short-term fixes and seeking real transformation. Bradlee Morgan, a healthcare expert known for his insights into system-based healing, guides you through why understanding this shift can redefine the way you approach health and performance. Feeling better is just a moment—it’s the starting point for lasting change. The real question: how do you build a system that thrives long-term? Press play and learn to stop chasing relief and start directing your future toward lasting resilience.

17. 

    3 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

    When Your Body Speaks Before Your Mind Does

    Unlock the hidden power of your mind-body connection and discover how trauma silently resides in your body, sometimes revealing itself as scars or physical tension during your healing journey. If you're tired of superficial therapy approaches that overlook this deep link, this episode is your essential guide to understanding the subconscious signals your body is constantly sending, and how they can transform your healing process. Dr. Kyrstin Lokkesmoe, a trauma-informed psychologist, shares eye-opening stories of scars reappearing during therapy sessions and explains scientifically backed concepts about how trauma impacts more than just your mind. You'll discover how emotional trauma is often stored in the hips, shoulders, and other parts of the body—manifesting as knots, tension, or even visible scars—and how processing trauma can physically bring these marks to the surface. We break down the critical difference between intellectual understanding and subconscious awareness, revealing powerful techniques to access and heal the parts of you that are often hidden from conscious thought. In this episode, you'll learn practical tools for recognizing emotional triggers in your body—such as tense shoulders or restless hips—and how shifting your mindset from resistance to awareness accelerates your healing. Dr. Kyrstin discusses the importance of “backdoor” subconscious work through immediacy and mindfulness, showing you how to bring hidden trauma into conscious awareness through simple yet profound exercises. We explore the misconceptions surrounding trauma, the role of neuro-linguistic programming, and how to gently challenge the negative beliefs that keep you stuck in cycles of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by their own mind or body or who yearns for a deeper, more integrated approach to health and wellness, this episode empowers you to listen to your body's silent language and take actionable steps toward holistic healing. If you're ready to stop fighting your body and start harmonizing your mind and body for lasting change, this conversation with Dr. Kyrstin will not only educate but also inspire you to trust your body's wisdom and begin a more conscious journey to well-being. Takeaways Mind-Body Connection Perfectionism and Self-Worth Metacognition Challenging negative self-talk Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:02 Misconceptions and Psychoeducation 14:59 Functioning vs. Alignment 21:59 Perfectionism and Self-Worth 28:21 Metacognition and Self-Reflection

18. 

    28 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

    You Are Not Falling Apart. You Are Responding Exactly as Designed.

    Summary In this conversation, Bradlee Morgan discusses the relationship between pain, belief systems, and performance. He emphasizes that pain is not merely a sign of damage but a response from the nervous system. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of pain and the importance of belief in recovery, individuals can transform their experiences from pain to performance. Brad encourages listeners to recognize their adaptive nature and to take proactive steps towards improvement. Takeaways If your body hurts, it doesn't mean something is wrong. Pain is an output of your nervous system. Sleep deprivation and stress increase pain sensitivity. The story you believe determines how you behave. High performers read signals differently and adapt accordingly. Pain is inevitable, but we can interact with it. You can change your internal dialogue to improve your situation. Some people are psychologically addicted to their pain. Clarity creates relief, which allows for trust and change. You are adaptive, not broken. Chapters 00:00 Understanding Pain and the Nervous System 05:27 High Performers and Pain Signals 08:48 The Role of Beliefs in Pain Management 11:43 Transforming Pain Into Performance

19. 

    19 Dec 2025

    Pain Is Not The Problem

    Pain shows up in more places than we like to admit. In our bodies, in our work, and in the way we push ourselves to perform. In this teaser episode of Pain to Performance, host Bradlee Morgan introduces the core idea behind the show. Pain is not something to ignore or push through. It is information. This episode sets the stage for the conversations ahead, bringing together insights from health professionals, performance experts, and business leaders to explore how pain affects the way we move, work, and live. It is an invitation to rethink discomfort, understand the signals your body is sending, and discover how reducing pain creates space for clarity, strength, and sustainable performance. If you have ever felt stuck, worn down, or disconnected from how your body supports your performance, this is where the conversation begins.

Inside a recent episode

Skip the Ortho Maze: How One Doctor Is Fixing Orthopedic Care in America

Published 17 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And so most of us are like, are you serious? Like I just fixed 5,000 people's problems and you're criticizing me because I didn't build a 99203 instead of a 99204? Give me a break, right? So 100%. And that whole system with what we've built It skips all that stuff. As you probably also know, Brad, there are about 10 people between the healthcare provider and the patient that have to be paid. Landscapers, coders, billers, and certain specialists, real estate people. Most hospital systems cost actual hospitals over $500 million to build. Who's going to pay for that, right? and and so like you're describing if you can have direct pay if you if you can work outside the insurance world guess what you can actually deliver care you can make a fair living and the patient gets that care they need so you don't have to do all that stuff but absolutely coding billing insurance has literally driven tens of thousands of people out of healthcare because it's so complex. […]

Who has been a guest on Pain to Performance

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Tom Weber
• Jeff Shore
• Jenn Whitmer
• Patricia Timmerman
• Jordan Berry

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Contact Pain to Performance

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Pain to Performance