In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones interviews Philip Kupins, CEO of the Pickle Juice Company. They discuss the unique properties of pickle juice that make it effective in preventing muscle cramps, the neurological basis of cramping, and the real-life impact of the product on athletes. Philip shares stories of how pickle juice has changed lives, the science behind its efficacy, and the company's commitment to authenticity and sustainability. The conversation also covers practical advice for athletes on how to use pickle juice effectively during sports activities.

About Filip:

As CEO, Filip Keuppens leads The Pickle Juice Company, a brand whose innovative, briny beverage uses a proprietary vinegar and grain blend to block the nerve signal that triggers muscle cramps. Scientifically backed and beloved by elite athletes, Pickle Juice® delivers real, performance-driven results.His background spans sales and operations across e-commerce, club, specialty, and grocery channels, with a focus on solution-based, innovative products. Storytelling is central to his approach; previously, he served as Director of Sales at 20th Century Fox and Key Account Manager at Warner Home Video, mastering the value of testimonials and compelling messaging.

Beyond business, Keuppens understands athletes firsthand as Coach and Director of Rugby with the Dallas Rugby Football Club and 7s Competition Commissioner with the Red River Rugby Conference, among other leadership roles with USA Club Rugby. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas, blending his passions for sport, innovation, and performance-driven storytelling.

Filip’s Links:

keuppens@picklepower.com

https://picklepower.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fkeuppens

The Pickle Juice Company®, specifically its science-backed approach providing rapid cramp relief. The growing movement of athletes using nervous-system–based tools to train, recover, and compete more effectively. Filip's broader mission to improve athlete wellness, especially as it relates to understanding pain signals, reducing preventable performance setbacks, and educating communities across youth, collegiate, and pro levels about how Pickle Juice works and how it’s different from pickle brine.

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Renee Moten, a certified personal trainer and knee pain specialist. They discuss Renee's journey from personal pain to helping others, the importance of understanding the kinetic chain in knee health, common mistakes people make in self-treatment, and the dangers of cortisone injections. Renee shares success stories from her clients, explains the concept of 'bone on bone' in knee health, and offers practical advice for those experiencing knee pain. The conversation concludes with insights into Renee's innovative knee pain relief strap and her upcoming book.

About Renee:

Renee is a Certified Personal Trainer with over 27 years of experience, a Massage

Therapist, an Author, and an Inventor. She formerly served as the Fitness Director at

Columbia Country Club in Bethesda.Since 2007, Renee has been a passionate entrepreneur, delivering more than 25,000 one-on-one fitness sessions and teaching over 5,000 classes—specifically focused on helping

women with knee pain. Her groundbreaking approach has helped countless clients reduce,

and in many cases eliminate, chronic knee pain.

Renee’s Links:

www.linkedin.com/in/kneekeeper

https://www.healmyknees.com/

https://www.instagram.com/knee_pain_stopper/

Renee Moten - YouTube

https://www.tiktok.com/@reneemoten47

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578949817106

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Jen Oliver, the operations and athlete manager at Switch 4 Good. They discuss the importance of plant-based nutrition for athletes, the challenges of fueling for endurance sports, and the significance of training the gut for optimal performance. Jen shares insights on advocating for dairy-free options in schools and the future of plant-based nutrition in athletics, emphasizing the need to normalize these choices in society.

About Jen:

Jen Oliver is the Director of Operations and Athlete Manager at Switch4Good, where she thrives in organized chaos and leads with purpose. With decades of experience building and guiding high-performance teams, Jen draws on her background as a Division I collegiate golfer and former professional women’s cycling team captain to mentor athletes with clarity, steadiness, and intention.

A lifelong endurance athlete and committed plant-based competitor, Jen supports Switch4Good’s athletes in balancing the demands of training, career, and life — helping them cultivate resilience, confidence, and alignment in both performance and purpose.

Website: www.Switch4Good.org

@Switch4Good (IG)

Podcast: Switch4Good Podcast

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Nadia Ruiz, an accomplished athlete and coach, about her journey in fitness, the evolution of her mind-body connection, and the importance of recovery. Nadia shares insights on the emotional aspects of racing, her teaching and coaching philosophy, and how to help athletes overcome past traumas. She emphasizes the significance of small steps in achieving fitness goals and encourages listeners to embrace their journey, regardless of age or experience.

As a Los Angeles native, Nadia Ruiz is an educator, coach, and community advocate aiming to support positive change in her community by inspiring individuals of all backgrounds to achieve their fitness goals. She is the daughter of two immigrant parents from Ecuador, who always wanted her to pursue her education, passions, and remember where she came from. Nadia’s fitness journey began when she completed her first marathon at the age of 14 with her dad, age 40 at the time. Twenty-nine years later, Nadia has completed 163 marathons with 84 Boston Qualifications, 145 half marathons, 21 ultra marathons, 18 half/full Ironmans, and several adventure / stage races, frequently in the top of her age group or overall women. She has traveled to 30 countries exploring challenging events, cultures, and connecting with people around the world to reach over 650 lifetime races.

Graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor’s in Biology and Master’s in Education, Nadia has worked in education, coaching, marketing, and event production for the past 20 years. She devoted ten of those years in the classroom teaching high school Biology and coaching high school and youth programs. Nadia is an educator-turned-advocate who is passionate about writing, education, and sport. In 2013, Nadia was named the Youngest Female to Run 100 Marathons in the World and Fastest Frequent Marathon in the Nation from 2010-2013. Since then, Nadia has expanded her online coaching business and educational resources to support others on their fitness journey at any stage of their lives. Her passion continues to support inner city youth sports programs. Nadia’s goals are to continue to motivate her community and make an impact demonstrating we each have it within us to follow our biggest dreams and leave a positive impact in our communities.

IG @irongirlnadia // same as threads, FB, TT, and YT

Blog with free race reports and training tips

Linktree with coaching services and free discounts

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Nida Tansinsin, a physical therapist and chronic pain coach, about her journey from athletic training to physical therapy. They discuss the neuroplastic mind-body approach to pain management, the importance of understanding pain sensations, and the role of mental health in physical recovery. Nida shares insights on navigating fear and anxiety in sports, the significance of compassion in healing, and reframing pain as 'sore but safe.' The conversation concludes with Nida's future plans for sharing resources and strategies for healing.

Nida began her career in athletic training over 25 years ago at Indiana University Bloomington and went on to earn her degree in physical therapy from Sacramento State in 2000. She started in sports medicine, working with professional, collegiate, and high-school athletes alongside Al Biancani, former strength and conditioning coach for the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs.

Over the years, her work as a physical therapist has spanned acute care, post-operative rehab, skilled nursing, home health, and outpatient practice, where she focused for the last decade. In the past seven years, her work has shifted toward a neuroplastic, mind-body approach after completing advanced training with Howard Schubiner and Charlie Merrill through Beyond Pain Education. She recently presented at the ATNS conference and currently work at Kaiser, as well as alongside Dr. Becca Kennedy as a chronic pain coach specialist.

Nida’s Links:

https://resilience-healthcare.com/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with chronic pain specialist Katie Rothwell about her personal journey with chronic pain and the development of the Beat Pain Method. The conversation explores the multifaceted approach to pain management, including the importance of understanding the mind-body connection, tailored therapies, and the emotional burdens often faced by mothers. Katie shares success stories from her clients, illustrating the transformative power of her method, which combines neuroscience, nutrition, and movement to empower individuals to live pain-free lives.

Katie's Bio:

Katie Rothwell is a pain coach and therapist who specialises in helping people overcome chronic pain using her very own BEAT pain approach - which stands for Brain, Energy, Activity and Therapy - this approach integrates pain education, nervous system calming, nutritional advice, sleep optimisation, and activity all designed to help one overcome pain. She came to this approach through her own journey of chronic back pain and a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease at age 30 along with her experience of working as a sports massage therapist and craniosacral therapist for 12 years. BEAT pain includes everything that has helped her and her clients to break free from pain. She helps people move past fear of movement to reclaim joy in their lives. Her work aligns closely with the mind-body approach and bridges the gap between science and self compassion in healing.

Katie's Links:

⁠https://katierothwell.co.uk/⁠

⁠info@katierothwell.co.uk⁠

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Charlie Merrill, a physical therapist and founder of Merrill Performance. They discuss the integration of mind-body therapy in treating pain, particularly for athletes. Charlie shares his journey into this field, influenced by the works of John Sarno and Howard Schubiner, and emphasizes the importance of belief in recovery. The conversation explores the psychological aspects of pain, the role of neuroplasticity, and the need for athletes to unlearn harmful narratives about their bodies. Charlie also highlights the significance of understanding the emotional impact of training and racing, and how this knowledge can empower athletes to manage their pain effectively.takeaways

• Charlie Merrill emphasizes the importance of creating a niche in physical therapy.
• Belief in recovery is crucial for positive outcomes.
• Pain is a normal part of athletic life and serves as a protector.
• Neuroplasticity allows for change in how we perceive pain.
• Athletes often prefer physical explanations for pain over psychological ones.
• Understanding the emotional aspects of training can help manage pain.
• The brain plays a key role in regulating physical sensations and pain.
• Unlearning harmful narratives about pain is essential for recovery.
• Nutrition and mental state significantly impact athletic performance.
• The rise of ultra-endurance sports highlights the need for mental resilience.

Charlie's Bio:

Charlie Merrill is a Physical Therapist and the founder of ⁠Merrill Performance⁠ in Boulder, CO. He's synthesized treatment of the mind and body for over 25 years to support people in returning to a high level of performance in their lives. In his practice, Charlie combines traditional hands on manual therapy and movement with a novel mind-body approach to treat a wide range of clients including some of the best runners, cyclists, rock climbers, and CrossFitters in the world. In addition to being a master clinician, Charlie is an educator, clinical mentor, clinical consultant with ⁠Lin Health⁠, and a content creator and influencer in the chronic pain space.

Charlie co-created the course "⁠Beyond Pain Education⁠" with Dr Howard Schibiner, MD to educate and mentor clinicians who are traditionally body oriented how to transition toward a more psychosocially informed approach to pain and function. He runs a 12 week immersive course for athletes looking to unlearn and overcome chronic symptoms called ⁠Unlearning Pain For Athletes⁠. Charlie created and teaches a 6 week course for body oriented clinicians in collaboration with the ⁠Pain Reprocessing Therapy Center⁠. He’s a content creator appearing on ⁠Podcasts⁠, his channel on ⁠YouTube⁠, and is active on ⁠Instagram⁠ supporting people in pain. Charlie is actively involved in clinical research and consults in the digital health technology space. He also serves on the medical advisory board for "⁠The Better Mind Center⁠". Charlie is a lifelong competitive athlete in a variety of disciplines and lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and three teenage kids.

Dana’s Links:

⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

In this episode of the Pain Free Athlete Podcast, host Dana Jones speaks with Rachel Robertson, a kinesiologist and Pilates specialist, about her journey in helping individuals recover from injuries through movement. Rachel shares her insights on the importance of Pilates in injury recovery, the emotional aspects of healing, and how to empower clients to take an active role in their recovery process. The conversation delves into the significance of body awareness, posture, and the connection between physical and emotional health in the journey towards pain-free movement.

About Rachel

Rachel Robertson is a kinesiologist and Pilates specialist with over a decade of experience helping others overcome physical limitations and rebuild trust in their bodies. She blends science and movement artistry to support injury recovery and sustainable strength.

A two-time World Kettlebell Champion and community wellness advocate, Rachel also educates fellow kinesiologists through workshops and webinars. She holds a Kinesiology degree from the University of Western Ontario and is a recognized member of BCAK.

Her passion for movement, shaped by her athletic background and personal journey, continues to inspire clients and professionals alike.

Free Resource for Listeners

Title: Online Mat Classes

Description: A mat Pilates playlist of workouts for building inner and outer strength.

Link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLQU2Z6w_-C3FyRf7d9yi8wb3d5tdI5L&si=bBZcL2VJTtCwhVQa

https://returntoform.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/returntoformkinesiology/

https://www.facebook.com/ReturntoFormKinesiologyPilates/

Dana’s Links:

⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠

⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠

Podcast Disclaimer:

The Pain-Free Podcast is presented solely for general information, education, and entertainment purposes. Any information presented in this podcast is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional diagnosis. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. As always, users should not disregard or delay obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition that they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.