The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast

About The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast

Hi, I’m Simone! Welcome to The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast! This show is a labor of love. After receiving countless DMs as I navigated my own NCS journey, I realized a podcast would be the best way to connect. While it’s a solo-hosted show where I will share my personal story, I will bring in guests like doctors or fellow NCS warriors to help share other lived experiences. My goal is to offer insights into procedures & ease anxiety around scans. I suggest starting with episodes 1 & 2 for context regarding my specific journey. After that, you can choose episodes based on where you are in your NCS process. I hope this show helps you feel less alone as you navigate this space for either yourself or a loved one. Outside of hosting this show, I am a Clinical Associate Professor of Sport Psychology and the CEO and Founder of The Center for Optimal Psychological Education in Injury & Rehabilitation (The COPE Center). The COPE Center began as a passion project, which was created not only to psychologically support injured clients but also to advocate for those navigating the broader injury and illness landscape. All of which can deeply impact our ability to perform and function in daily life. At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to advocacy for both the self and for others. Sending you all so much love from behind my podcasting microphone. Medical & Mental Health Disclaimer The content shared on The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views and experiences shared, including my own and those of guests, reflect personal lived experiences and professional perspectives, not individualized medical or mental health guidance. This podcast is not intended to provide psychotherapy, counseling, mental health treatment, or crisis intervention. Listening to this podcast does not establish a patient–provider, therapist–client, or therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing significant emotional distress, mental health symptoms, or thoughts of harming yourself or others, please seek immediate support from a licensed mental health professional, your national (call 988) or local emergency services, or a trusted crisis resource in your area. Always seek the advice of your physician, licensed mental health professional, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition, symptoms, procedures, or treatment options. Never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you have heard on this podcast.

Publisher

Simone Erdner, PhD, CMPC

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Mar 2025

Latest episode

8 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Jun 2026

   S2E8: Updates + New Diagnoses

   Hi, all, and welcome back to the NCS Podcast. It's been a little while since I've released a new episode. The past few months have been something of a whirlwind, beginning with a severe kidney infection in my transplanted kidney at the start of 2026. Interestingly, the infection occurred the day after my third ketamine treatment. While the ketamine itself was not responsible for the infection, the experience prompted me to pause treatment and give my body the space it needed to settle and heal before moving forward. During this time, I have also accumulated several new diagnoses, each bringing its own set of questions, challenges, and emotions. As a result, much of the last few months has been spent navigating not only the physical realities of chronic illness but also the emotional rollercoaster that has accompanied them. In this episode, I share updates on my health journey, discuss these new diagnoses, and reflect on what it has been like to continue processing the kidney autotransplant. More than a year later, I am still learning what it means to live in this new body, to understand its limits, appreciate its resilience, grieve what has changed, and make sense of what comes next. As always, thank you for being here and for allowing me to share this journey with you.

2. 

   28 Jan 2026

   S2E7, Ketamine Therapy Series, Session Two.Two

   After recording my last episode on session two, something shifted in a way I didn’t expect. In this episode, I share what happened during the integration that followed, the moment my “scared self” surfaced, the tension that rose between Kyle and me, and what it felt like to finally be held in the middle of grief I’ve carried for years. I talk openly about fear, loss, and the layers of pain connected to my brother, my father, and my mother, and how this release felt different from anything I’ve experienced before. Instead of days of emotional rebalancing, I found myself grounded almost instantly, as if something I’d been holding onto for far too long finally let go. This episode reflects on what it means to feel safe in your body with another person, to lean into grief without being consumed by it, and to notice the quiet, powerful shift that happens when you begin to truly process and release what you’ve been carrying. Listener discretion advised: This episode includes discussion of grief, family loss, and emotional processing.

3. 

   22 Jan 2026

   S2E6, Ketamine Therapy Series, Session Two

   In this second installment of my ketamine-assisted therapy series, I walk listeners through what my second session felt like from the moments leading up to the infusion to the psychological and emotional “downloads” that emerged once the ketamine took effect. I begin by reflecting on how this session differed from my first, including subtle but meaningful changes in the pre-session environment and the clinical check-in process. I share the follow-up questions my care team asked based on what I experienced in the days between sessions. This session also marked a dosage increase, moving from 45mg to 55mg, which opened the door to a noticeably different internal landscape. I describe what surfaced once the ketamine was administered: the themes, sensations, and insights that emerged, and how they connected to my ongoing work with medical trauma, grief, and nervous-system regulation. As always, this episode is offered through both a personal and professional lens, bridging lived experience with clinical and performance-psychology perspectives for practitioners, patients, and anyone curious about how ketamine-assisted therapy can support healing in the context of injury, illness, and loss. This episode is intended for educational and storytelling purposes only and does not replace professional medical or mental health care. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any treatment decisions.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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