The Most Confounding Affliction: Tom Zeller Jr. on Headache Disorders, Stigma & the Science Gap

The Most Confounding Affliction: Tom Zeller Jr. on Headache Disorders, Stigma & the Science Gap

Award-winning journalist and author Tom Zeller Jr. joins Bernadette and Sophia for a conversation that is equal parts science, memoir, and advocacy wake-up call. For decades, Tom has lived with cluster headache, one of the most painful conditions known to medicine, while hiding it in newsrooms, rationing precious medication, and quietly scouring scientific literature late into the night. His book, The Headache: Science of a Most Confounding Affliction, is the result of a lifetime of private research made public. In this episode, Tom unpacks why language so often fails us when describing pain, how deeply ingrained stigma has actively discouraged scientists from studying headache disorders, and the consequences of headache conditions receiving just 0.2% of NIH funding. He also reflects on the vulnerability of writing himself into the story after a career spent erasing himself from it. Whether you live with a headache condition or love someone who does, this episode will leave you with both more clarity and questions about where the science stands on the most confounding subject of headache. Find Tom Zeller Jr. and his book at https://tomzeller.com/ [https://tomzeller.com/].  Timestamps:  * 00:00 — No meter, no litmus test: why trust is necessary when communicating pain * 01:24 — Welcome & intro to Chronically Peachy * 02:05 — Introducing Tom Zeller Jr. and his book The Headache * 02:58 — How decades of living with cluster headache shaped Tom's life and the impulse to hide * 04:43 — What a cluster headache actually feels like: each attack is an emergency * 06:13 — Rationing Sumatriptan injections, the legal and illegal search for relief * 08:18 — Why language fails when describing head pain: a 75-out-of-10  * 10:19 — Why headache was the last topic Tom wanted to write an entire book about  * 11:30 — Tom's editor's challenge: "Where are you? You're not in this book." * 12:38 —  Combining human stories with research and science: writing to reach beyond the headache community * 14:03 — Being both the journalist and the subject: navigating memoir and investigative reporting * 16:40 — The discovery that shocked Tom most: the stigma is real, and it is paralyzing headache research * 19:00 — University of Michigan research on stigma: documented evidence that headache disorders generate disgust * 19:46 — How Freud and misogyny derailed the entire trajectory of headache research * 21:18 — Why headache patients aren't "the sexy payoff patient" for clinicians * 23:20 — What studying headache could teach us about pain and the nervous system * 23:56 — When pharmaceutical companies fill the funding gap and the consequences that follow * 26:02 — The gap between patient reality and science: outdated treatment and advice still happening in 2026  * 28:04 — From vascular to neurobiological: the shift in understanding migraine and cluster headache * 32:17 — Research Tom is excited about, and his fears of another funding and medication desert * 33:49—  What gives Tom the most hope for the headache community * 34:53 — What was cut from the book: rare headache disorders and the evolutionary mystery of why headache persists Follow us on social media 🎙 Chronically Peachy IG: @chronicallypeachypod [https://www.instagram.com/chronicallypeachypod] ✨ Bernadette’s IG: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.instagram.com/ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s TikTok: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.tiktok.com/@ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s Threads: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.threads.com/@chronicaccounts]  🍑 Peachy Day website: www.peachyday.co [https://www.peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day TikTok: @peachyday.co [https://www.tiktok.com/@peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day IG: @peachyday.co [https://www.instagram.com/peachyday.co] Music: noon by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/noon], honey jam by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/honey-jam]

Dr. Mina: The Empathetic Headache Neurologist Behind @MigraineswithMina (Part 2)

She's a headache specialist, a mom, a neurologist's daughter, and the TikTok creator who went viral for one simple reason: she got fed up with migraine misinformation and decided to speak up. Welcome back Dr. Mina for Part 2! In this episode, Sophia and Bernadette continue diving into Dr. Mina’s journey as a medical educator with an online following of 194,000+ and growing, the migraine myths she’s most determined to shut down, and the evidence-based advice she wishes every migraine patient could access. From the McDonald's migraine hack to scalding hot foot baths, Dr. Mina breaks down why these viral "hacks" minimize the severity of migraine disease. She also gets candid about the challenges of balancing advocacy, medicine, and motherhood, and shares what she tells patients (and her own family members!) about why early treatment matters. We get into: * What finally pushed Dr. Mina to start posting on TikTok, and why a chiropractor’s video was the last straw * The migraine myths she'd eliminate with a magic wand * How online backlash almost made her step back, and what’s given her strength to keep going * How she balances being a headache specialist, creator, wife, and mom * Why tracking your headache days is one of the most powerful things you can do before seeing a neurologist * The hot water foot hack, debunked, and how sensory distractions actually work Follow Dr. Mina at @migraineswithmina on TikTok and Instagram. To get involved in migraine advocacy, check out Miles for Migraine [https://www.milesformigraine.org/] for local races, peer community groups, and other resources. Timestamps  * 00:00 — Dr. Mina's key message: migraine is treatable, and get care early * 00:45 — Welcome & intro to Chronically Peachy * 01:24 — Recap of Part 1 and what's ahead in this episode * 01:47 — What inspired Dr. Mina to start posting on social media * 02:34 — red flags about health practitioners sharing medical advice about treating migraine * 03:13 — How misinformation goes viral, and why Dr. Mina speaks up publicly as a headache neurologist * 05:14— The migraine myths to eliminate first: the McDonald's hack & hot/cold water treatments * 06:36 — When even doctors are promoting harmful migraine hacks for clicks * 07:21 — Personal pushback for starting @migraineswithmina and encouraging feedback * 08:17 — Why she shares personal and family content alongside migraine education * 08:46 — Her mom the neurologist, reality TV potential, and building a broader audience * 09:24 — How she defines "balance" as a doctor, mom, and advocate * 10:44 — Advice about treatment for anyone living with migraine * 12:04 — The real cost of untreated migraine over time * 13:50 — Why tracking your symptoms is essential before seeing a specialist * 14:30 — Advocating for migraine with Miles for Migraine * 15:54 — Migraine Mythbusters: the viral scalding hot water foot hack, debunked * 17:17 — Sensory distractions that help without risk to your body (cold compress hats, tiger balm) * 17:37 — "If you're on the hack page, it's time to see a headache specialist" Follow Dr. Mina on social media ✨Dr. Mina’s IG: @Migraineswithmina  [https://www.instagram.com/migraineswithmina/] ✨Dr. Mina’s TikTok: @Migraineswithmina  [https://www.tiktok.com/@migraineswithmina] Follow us on social media 🎙 Chronically Peachy IG: @chronicallypeachypod [https://www.instagram.com/chronicallypeachypod] ✨ Bernadette’s IG: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.instagram.com/ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s TikTok: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.tiktok.com/@ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s Threads: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.threads.com/@chronicaccounts]  🍑 Peachy Day website: www.peachyday.co [https://www.peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day TikTok: @peachyday.co [https://www.tiktok.com/@peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day IG: @peachyday.co [https://www.instagram.com/peachyday.co] Music: noon by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/noon], honey jam by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/honey-jam]

From Red Carpets to American Love Song: Britt Middleton on Migraine, Representation, and Romance

She’s interviewed Bradley Cooper and the cast of Crazy Rich Asians, reported from sparkling red carpets, and built a powerhouse media career, all while quietly battling decades of undiagnosed migraine: she’s Britt Middleton! In this episode, Sophia and Bernadette sit down with novelist, journalist, poet, and Columbia MFA candidate Britt Middleton to talk about what it really looks like to build a fulfilling creative life alongside chronic illness. After nearly 15 years without a diagnosis and not seeing stories like hers reflected on bookshelves, Britt made the bold choice to write her debut novel, American Love Song, a country rom-com retelling of Taylor Swift's "Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince.” We get into: * Managing migraine while interviewing major celebrities, including Britt’s very public moment at a John Cena red carpet movie premiere that inspired her book * What finally pushed Britt to seek a diagnosis and how it’s shaped her journey * Why it’s more meaningful now than ever to center the stories of Black women and chronic illness and how representation in the romance genre still has a long way to go * Productivity culture, chronic illness, and the unlearning that comes with choosing yourself American Love Song is available May 19th on Amazon and at BrittMiddleton.com [http://brittmiddleton.com], or for pre-orders here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkUkxA3zaELDo3JHownyXkk6j9xO3zfrVi7AItUe7HaG68fQ/viewform?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnXHxWLNCUmt-fCvcftGelWiS_HHzDEI4z61zdH6wLCLejXMLQPPFnkJ5vQ_A_aem_atU6zjDVvhz7npNhtQctdQ]. Find Britt everywhere at @TheBrittMiddleton [https://www.instagram.com/thebrittmiddleton/]. Timestamps * 00:00 — A novel for people who have chronic illness, written by someone with chronic illness * 00:50 — Welcome & intro to Chronically Peachy * 01:32 — Introducing our guest, Britt Middleton: novelist, journalist, and poet * 03:43 — Britt's 20-year migraine journey: from undiagnosed childhood migraine to finally receiving a diagnosis in her early 30s * 05:43 — The moment that pushed Britt to finally seek a migraine diagnosis * 07:27 — How untreated migraine impacted Britt’s personal life and relationships * 08:02 — Balancing writing and chronic illness: blue light glasses, triggers, and not writing every day * 09:43 — Removing the guilt: migraine as a neurological disorder, not a personal failing * 10:34 — High-pressure journalism with migraine: interviews, studio lights, and pushing through the pain * 11:27 — The John Cena interview and movie premiere that inspired her book * 15:16 — Migraine representation in pop culture and why headache ≠ migraine * 16:14 — Writing a protagonist with migraine in her debut novel and depicting care within a relationship * 18:21 — Why Britt left a high-powered career to write fiction — and how migraine was the catalyst * 20:29 — Productivity culture, chronic illness, and the unlearning process * 22:23 — What Britt hopes readers will take away from American Love Song * 24:17 — How much of Britt's own life is in her main character Brinton's story * 25:20 — Intersectionality: being a Black woman in journalism and writing that truth into fiction * 27:01 — Writing vulnerable moments inspired by real-life experiences: having to work twice as hard to be seen and respected as a Black woman with chronic illness * 29:00 — Disability representation and the authors that inspired Britt: Talia Hibbert and Tia Williams * 30:00 — Why Britt chose to self-publish and how indie publishing is changing the game * 31:31 — Closing message to the Chronically Peachy community: you deserve to feel well Follow us on social media 🎙 Chronically Peachy IG: @chronicallypeachypod [https://www.instagram.com/chronicallypeachypod] ✨ Bernadette’s IG: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.instagram.com/ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s TikTok: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.tiktok.com/@ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s Threads: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.threads.com/@chronicaccounts]  🍑 Peachy Day website: www.peachyday.co [https://www.peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day TikTok: @peachyday.co [https://www.tiktok.com/@peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day IG: @peachyday.co [https://www.instagram.com/peachyday.co] Music: noon by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/noon], honey jam by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/honey-jam]

Headache on the Hill: 15 Stories of Migraine Advocacy

This week, co-hosts Sophia and Bernadette take you inside Sophia’s third year at Headache on the Hill, a biannual advocacy event where patients, neurologists, researchers, and headache advocates travel to Washington, D.C. to meet directly with lawmakers and push for stronger federal migraine and headache policy! In this episode, we share and react to powerful stories from 15 inspiring advocates that Sophia interviewed at Headache on the Hill. From a high school student fighting for the next generation facing migraine and a cluster headache patient navigating an often invisible condition, to a trigeminal neuralgia advocate and her dedicated partner, each voice highlights the strength and diversity of the headache community. You’ll also hear expert insights from neurologists on how to access the right diagnosis and care, plus the life-changing wisdom that helps keep our community strong, supported, and, of course, Chronically Peachy! Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome & intro to Chronically Peachy 00:43 — What is Headache on the Hill? 01:56 — The migraine funding gap & why advocacy matters 03:03 — This year's three legislative asks: Headache Act, Safe Step Act & Connect for Health Act 04:10 — Advocate stories: Keely, Isabella, Heather & Sharon 06:50 — Reflecting on hope, grief & finding purpose in pain 09:54 — Hearing from the medical community: Dr. Baha, Dr. Barbara & Isaac 11:35 — Reframing self-blame & the migraine threshold 14:07 — Migraine beyond head pain: nervous system dysfunction 16:28 — Beyond migraine: spotlight on all headache disorders 17:29 — Advocate stories: Michael (cluster headache), Lisa & Chris (trigeminal neuralgia) 20:01 — Caregiving, navigating the ER & intersectional barriers to care 22:15 — No place for Pain Olympics: every story belongs 24:26 — Life-changing advice from advocates: Alicia, Christy, Jacqueline, Mandy & Montana 26:08 — Learning to say no without apologizing 28:44 — Cheryl's chronically peachy secret: her "sugar honey iced tea" playlist 30:00 — Sophia reflects on her favorite moments from the event 31:43 — How to get involved with Headache on the Hill (in person & virtually) 33:10 — Outro & where to find us Follow us on social media 🎙 Chronically Peachy IG: @chronicallypeachypod [https://www.instagram.com/chronicallypeachypod] ✨ Bernadette’s IG: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.instagram.com/ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s TikTok: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.tiktok.com/@ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s Threads: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.threads.com/@chronicaccounts]  🍑 Peachy Day website: www.peachyday.co [https://www.peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day TikTok: @peachyday.co [https://www.tiktok.com/@peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day IG: @peachyday.co [https://www.instagram.com/peachyday.co] Music: honey jam by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/honey-jam]

The Real Migraine Toolkit: Preventative, Acute & Lifestyle

Is your migraine toolkit built for attacks, or built to support your whole life? In this episode of Chronically Peachy, co-hosts Bernadette and Sophia break down what it really means to build a migraine toolkit: preventative treatments, acute medications, neuromodulation devices, and everyday lifestyle habits that make the biggest difference. Bernadette shares her experience living with chronic refractory migraine, the trial-and-error behind finding what works, and the small but powerful tools that make daily life more manageable. From recognizing early warning signs to navigating the emotional ups and downs of living life alongside migraine symptoms, this is a layered, real-world approach to migraine care that nobody talks about. We also get into the emotional side of caring for migraine: self-compassion, survival mode strategies, and why it’s not about perfection. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or rethinking your approach, this episode reminds us that managing migraine isn’t just finding one-off tools, it’s about building sustainable systems to support our lives. Plus in this episode’s Migraine Mythbusters, we unpack a viral question: does the daith piercing actually help migraine…or is it just a myth? Timestamps 00:03 - Your migraine toolkit isn’t just for attacks; it’s a preventative approach.  01:38 - Bernadette’s approach to building a migraine toolkit. 02:20 - Undiagnosed for years: the moment everything finally clicked. 03:03 - Why preventative treatment is the foundation (not optional). 04:40 - Bernadette’s approach to acute/abortive medication. 05:29 - Understanding when to take acute/abortive medications. 06:05 - How medication underuse can impact migraine. 06:23 - Migraine brain fog: why it’s so hard to help yourself mid-attack. 06:53 - Learning your warning signs before it’s too late. 08:00 - Neuromodulation devices: a non-medication option explained. 10:26 - The real strategy: blending meds with lifestyle tools. 11:00 - Movement as medicine (when it helps… and when it doesn’t). 11:39 - Other foundational lifestyle habits in Bernadette’s toolkit 12:14 - How to stay consistent without burning out. 14:11 - Migraine survival mode: practical tools for your worst days 16:44 - Bernadette’s advice for building a migraine toolkit  19:14 - Migraine mythbuster: Does the daith piercing work? Sources referenced * Literature review: Daith piercing: Revisited from the perspective of auricular acupuncture systems. A narrative review [https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/head.14672] * Expert opinion: Daith Piercings & Migraine [https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/daith-piercings-101/] Follow us on social media 🎙 Chronically Peachy IG: @chronicallypeachypod [https://www.instagram.com/chronicallypeachypod] ✨ Bernadette’s IG: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.instagram.com/ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s TikTok: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.tiktok.com/@ChronicAccounts] ✨ Bernadette’s Threads: @ChronicAccounts [https://www.threads.com/@chronicaccounts]  🍑 Peachy Day website: www.peachyday.co [https://www.peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day TikTok: @peachyday.co [https://www.tiktok.com/@peachyday.co] 🍑 Peachy Day IG: @peachyday.co [https://www.instagram.com/peachyday.co] Music: noon by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/noon], honey jam by massobeats [https://freetouse.com/music/massobeats/honey-jam]