World Model · podcast knowledge graph

The New Science of Pain: It's Not Just Physical with Dr. Rachel Zoffness

2026-09-14 · 109 min · 18 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

  • → authored Tell Me Where It Hurts book
    0.62
    evidence rules-v5
    author of Tell Me Where It Hurts
  • → authored Tell Me Where It Hurts book
    0.62
    evidence rules-v5
    author of Tell Me Where It Hurts
  • → hosted by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson
  • → hosted by Being Well person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Being Well
  • → discusses Education concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Education
  • → discusses Health & Fitness concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Health & Fitness
  • → discusses Self-Improvement concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Self-Improvement
  • → discusses Mental Health person
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Mental Health
  • → references BEINGWELL website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v5
    Link in episode "The New Science of Pain: It's Not Just Physical with Dr. Rachel Zoffness": https://zocdoc.com/BEINGWELL

Entities found in this episode

concepts 7

  • mentioned Education concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Education
  • mentioned Health & Fitness concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Health & Fitness
  • mentioned Self-Improvement concept
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Self-Improvement
  • 0.42
    evidence rules-v5
    The New Science of Pain: It's Not Just Physical with Dr. Rachel Zoffness
  • discusses Education concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Education
  • discusses Health & Fitness concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Health & Fitness
  • discusses Self-Improvement concept
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Self-Improvement

persons 6

  • 0.70
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson
  • mentioned Being Well person
    0.70
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Being Well
  • 0.55
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson
  • hosted by Being Well person
    0.55
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed author/publisher: Being Well
  • mentioned Mental Health person
    0.50
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Mental Health
  • discusses Mental Health person
    0.40
    evidence rules-v5
    Feed category: Mental Health

books 3

websites 2

  • mentioned BEINGWELL website
    0.45
    evidence rules-v5
    Link in episode "The New Science of Pain: It's Not Just Physical with Dr. Rachel Zoffness": https://zocdoc.com/BEINGWELL
  • references BEINGWELL website
    0.38
    evidence rules-v5
    Link in episode "The New Science of Pain: It's Not Just Physical with Dr. Rachel Zoffness": https://zocdoc.com/BEINGWELL
Episode description as stored
Pain psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness joins Forrest and Dr. Rick to explore what pain is, why it can persist long after an injury has healed, and what actually helps. Rachel explains why the brain, rather than the body part that hurts, is what constructs pain, the difference between acute and chronic pain, and the distinction between hurt (what you feel) and harm (what's damaged). They get into the biopsychosocial model, the "pain dial" that stress, sleep, mood, and social connection can turn up or down, the disappointing response rates for most pain treatments, why pain is absolutely not “just in your head,” what sham surgery and open-label placebo studies reveal about how pain works, and why the research is so hard to interpret. This is not medical advice. Please do not start, change, or discontinue any medication based on this episode. All decisions should be made with your doctor. About our Guest: Dr. Rachel Zoffness is a pain psychologist, assistant clinical professor at the UCSF School of Medicine, and the author of Tell Me Where It Hurts. Key Topics: 0:00 Introduction 1:42 Acute vs. chronic pain 3:41 What is pain? 9:20 The biopsychosocial model 11:11 Hurt vs. harm: the tale of two nails 19:10 The pain dial 23:10 Nociception vs. pain 26:46 Your pain recipe 29:46 The "all in your head" stigma 31:23 Central sensitization 35:53 Pushback from pain patients 40:42 Loneliness and pain 46:51 Pacing 50:48 Reducing distress vs. reducing pain 54:26 Does anything work? 1:00:07 What placebo actually is 1:03:19 Acupuncture, sham surgery, and open-label placebo 1:09:42 Why the research is such a mess 1:14:10 Hopelessness, and trying one more thing 1:17:46 Mindfulness and attention 1:23:02 Advice for friends and family 1:30:22 Recap Support the Podcast: We're on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link. Sponsors Go to https://Zocdoc.com/BEINGWELL to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Check your health the way I do with 160+ lab tests and access to scans through Function, all for only $365 a year. Learn more at https://functionhealth.com/BEINGWELL and use code BEINGWELL25 for a $25 credit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices