Birth doula Ahna Mikl joins Dr. Lipov to share how trauma shows up in the female body — and how SGB may offer a new path to healing, fertility, and nervous system repair.
- -
In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Eugene Lipov speaks with birth doula and regenerative health practitioner Ahna Mikl, who shares her own healing journey—and the profound impact of the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) in unlocking long-held trauma stored in the body. Together, they explore nervous system dysregulation, infertility, painful menstrual cycles, and how unresolved trauma can affect everything from digestion to sexual health to generational wellbeing.
Ahna offers intimate reflections on postpartum depression, orgasms as healing, and the need to center maternal health in conversations about collective wellness. Dr. Lipov responds with accessible science, linking PTSD and sympathetic nervous system overdrive to infertility, IBS, vaginismus, and disrupted bonding.
This episode lays the groundwork for an emerging collaboration between Ahna and Dr. Lipov to bring the benefits of SGB to women suffering from postpartum depression—offering hope, connection, and a reminder that healing is possible.
Marine veteran and retired officer Juan Perez joins Dr. Lipov to talk identity, chaos, and why PTSD isn’t a life sentence — it’s an injury with a path to healing.
- -
In this raw and revealing episode of Brain Hope Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov sits down with Juan Perez, a Marine Corps veteran and retired Chicago police officer better known as JP, The Veteran Coach. A combat veteran of Afghanistan and former scout sniper, JP opens up about the long arc of trauma in his life—how military culture taught him to suppress pain, how years in law enforcement kept him in survival mode, and how admitting he had PTSD felt like admitting defeat. Together, he and Dr. Lipov unravel the damaging narrative that PTSD is a life sentence, instead presenting it as a biological injury that’s both measurable and treatable.
JP shares his experience receiving a stellate ganglion block (SGB) as part of his journey toward healing, reflecting on the immediate sense of calm he felt and the possibilities it opens for veterans still suffering in silence. Dr. Lipov details the science behind SGB and the fight to change the name from PTSD to PTSI (Post-Traumatic Stress Injury)—not just for accuracy, but to save lives by reducing stigma. Their conversation ranges from chaos addiction and secondary PTSD to the physiology of trauma, aging, and norepinephrine overload. With clarity, conviction, and mutual respect, the episode is a rallying cry for change, a dose of science-backed hope, and a powerful reminder that trauma may be part of your story—but it doesn’t have to define your future.
Dr. Lipov and bestselling author Lauren Ungeldi discuss storytelling, neuroscience, and why hope — not stigma — should define how we talk about trauma.
- -
In this inspiring episode of Brain Hope Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov welcomes Lauren Ungeldi — 10x bestselling author and Lipov's co-writer of the soon-to-be-released The God Shot — for a lively discussion about writing, healing, and the science of storytelling. Known for her work with global leaders and elite military veterans, Ungeldi brings a unique perspective to the conversation, rooted in human triumph and emotional truth. Together, they reflect on their collaboration for the upcoming Brain Hope Reality book, which aims to make neuroscience and trauma recovery both approachable and empowering for everyday readers.
Ungeldi shares insights from her past work with subjects like Bibi Aisha (the Afghan woman once featured on the cover of TIME) and former Delta Force operators, touching on identity, chaos addiction, and the ripple effects of trauma. Dr. Lipov explains the biological reality of PTSI (Post-Traumatic Stress Injury), the importance of changing the name from PTSD, and how modalities like Stellate Ganglion Block can reverse the physiological damage caused by trauma. The two speak candidly about inter-generational wounds, the science of hope, and how metaphor, humor, and visual storytelling can help make the invisible visible. At its core, the episode—and the forthcoming book—is a declaration: trauma is real, healing is possible, and you are not alone.
Functional medicine nutritionist Rachel Scheer joins Dr. Lipov to explore trauma, gut health, and the surprising science linking mental health to the microbiome.
- -
In this science-rich episode of Brain Hope Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov sits down with Rachel Scheer, a functional medicine nutritionist, public speaker, and founder of Rachel Scheer Nutrition. A former competitive bodybuilder, Scheer shares how her personal health crisis — including chronic gut issues, hormone imbalance, and years of misdiagnosis — led her to reframe healing from the inside out. Their conversation explores the connections between trauma, sympathetic nervous system activation, and gut dysfunction, with a shared belief that mental health is deeply biological and profoundly treatable.
Scheer introduces the emerging field of psychobiotics — specific probiotics and microbial strains that can improve mood, sleep, anxiety, and even PTSD symptoms via the gut-brain axis. The two discuss candidiasis, SIBO, leaky gut, and how low-diversity gut flora can impair vagal tone and emotional resilience. As someone who’s both a patient and a practitioner, Scheer reflects on the healing power of integration — pairing nervous system regulation (like Dr. Lipov’s stellate ganglion block treatment) with gut-targeted protocols and root-cause nutrition. With clarity and conviction, this episode offers a new framework for recovery: one that respects physiology, empowers patients, and invites collaboration across medical disciplines.
Dr. Lipov sits down with world-record athlete and entrepreneur Stefi Cohen to talk trauma, treatment, and what it really takes to rewire the brain—and the system.
- -
In this high-impact episode of Brain Hope Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov is joined by powerhouse guest Dr. Stefi Cohen—a world-record-holding strength athlete, physical therapist, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate. Together, they discuss the physiological roots of trauma, the limitations of traditional mental health frameworks, and the urgent need for new tools, language, and transparency in treatment. Dr. Cohen shares her personal experience living with anxiety and panic attacks from a young age—and how years of talk therapy and medications often failed to address the biological drivers of her symptoms.
The conversation dives deep into the neuroscience of PTSD and what it would mean to reframe the diagnosis as an injury (PTSI) rather than a disorder. Dr. Lipov outlines the physiology behind stellate ganglion block (SGB) as a treatment, the flawed resistance within the medical establishment, and the tragic consequences of stigma. Cohen offers a patient’s perspective, sharing her initial skepticism and eventual sense of serenity after undergoing SGB herself. Equal parts clinical and candid, this episode is a compelling argument for bridging science, patient experience, and policy reform—with courage, curiosity, and a lot less pharmaceutical noise.
Women’s coach Laisa Sol joins Dr. Lipov to explore healing through movement, breath, and self-discovery—and why mental health should never be a last resort.
- -
In this soul-centered episode of Brain Hope Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov welcomes international women’s coach and retreat leader Laisa Sol (https://www.instagram.com/laisa_sol/ ) for a deeply personal conversation about healing, embodiment, and feminine resilience. Known for her work creating Women’s Circle Retreats in Bali, Miami, Brazil, and beyond, Sol shares her belief that physical, emotional, and energetic healing are deeply interconnected. Drawing from her background in somatic coaching, inner child work, and active meditation practices rooted in white tantra, Sol emphasizes the power of breath, stillness, movement, and community to help women reconnect with their authentic selves.
Together, she and Dr. Lipov reflect on the biology of trauma, the need to reframe PTSD as PTSI (Post-Traumatic Stress Injury), and the dangers of suppressing mental distress—both for the individual and for the immune system. Sol speaks candidly about how her own heartbreak led her to start healing circles for women, offering spaces where emotional release is not only safe but sacred. The episode concludes with a calming guided breath meditation and a call to remember that trauma may shape us, but it does not have to define us. Hope, after all, is always within reach—and sometimes, all it takes is one deep breath.
Filmmaker Gia Galligani joins Dr. Lipov to share how a friend’s treatment for PTSI became a documentary—and why changing one word could change how the world sees trauma
- -
In this episode of Brain Hope Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov welcomes filmmaker Gia Galligani, whose latest documentary project was sparked by witnessing close friends undergo treatment for PTSD at the Stella Center. Their journey—both emotional and medical—serves as a powerful lens into the broader campaign to redefine PTSD as PTSI: Post-Traumatic Stress Injury. Galligani discusses what led her to tell this story, how the treatment visibly changed her friends within days, and why storytelling can be as life-saving as science.
The conversation ranges from the stigma of the word “disorder” to the measurable biology of trauma, including how mental health impacts aging, cardiovascular health, and immune function. Galligani reflects on the experience not only as a filmmaker but as a witness to healing—and becomes a voice for families and caregivers, who are too often left out of the trauma conversation. Dr. Lipov outlines the scientific and grassroots effort to push the American Psychiatric Association to change the DSM’s terminology and calls on listeners to join the letter-writing campaign via itsptsi.com. Together, the episode offers a compelling blend of clinical insight, lived experience, and a call to action: trauma is treatable, and words matter.
PTSD is treatable — and may be biologically reversible. Dr. Lipov joins journalist Bill Kubota to discuss science, stigma, and why renaming the condition could save lives.
- -
In this special Veterans Day episode of Brain Hope Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov is joined by journalist and fellow advocate Bill Kubota for a candid discussion on the urgent campaign to rename Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI). Dr. Lipov explains why the term “disorder” perpetuates stigma, discourages treatment, and ignores the growing body of biological evidence showing that PTSI is a measurable, physiological injury. Drawing on historical context, brain imaging studies, and decades of military and civilian trauma cases, Lipov presents a clear, science-backed case for why the DSM must evolve.
Kubota, a longtime reporter and ally in amplifying voices from the veteran and trauma-impacted communities, engages Lipov in a wide-ranging conversation that includes suicide prevention, trauma inheritance, and public health messaging. They discuss the impact of advocacy work by figures like General Pete Chiarelli and Dr. Frank Ochberg, as well as the challenges in breaking through national media silence. Lipov shares updates on his formal proposal to the DSM Steering Committee and urges listeners to support the movement through a public letter campaign. Together, they reflect on how a simple name change—backed by science and compassion—could save countless lives and reshape how we talk about trauma across generations.
Can PTSD accelerate aging — and can reversing it make you biologically younger? Dr. Lipov talks with epigenetics expert Bobby Brooke about stress, longevity, and the power of measurable healing.
- -
In this engaging episode of Brain, Hope, Reality, Dr. Eugene Lipov speaks with Robert (Bobby) Brooke, CEO of the nonprofit Clock Foundation and collaborator with epigeneticist Dr. Steve Horvath. The conversation explores the field of epigenetics, particularly how trauma and stress can accelerate biological aging through changes in gene expression — changes that are measurable and, crucially, reversible. They discuss the development of epigenetic clocks like Horvath’s GrimAge, which can predict biological age from a simple blood or saliva test, and how these tools are now being used to study the long-term health impacts of PTSD, depression, and other stress-related conditions.
Dr. Lipov reveals the biological age result from his own GrimAge test — more than 12 years younger than his chronological age — and reflects on the lifestyle and medical interventions (including rapamycin, metformin, intermittent fasting, and stress reduction) that may have contributed. The pair discuss the broader implications of these findings for aging populations, clinical trials, and public health — particularly in validating the tangible health costs of PTSD and mental stress. They share a shared optimism that new biomarkers and trials could finally shift the conversation around mental health from stigma to science, and from symptom management to true biological healing.
Dr. Eugene Lipov interviews Elizaveta Plechista, MD, Chief of Anesthesia, DOBROBUT, a private Ukrainian medical network of clinics and hospitals, about the lack of chronic pain management and under-diagnosis of PTSI in war-torn Ukraine.
- -
They discuss the potential of using stellate ganglion block (SGB) as a treatment for PTSI and the challenges of implementing it in Ukraine. They also touch on the impact of the war on the healthcare system and the mental health of the population, segueing into a discussion of the condition effecting all species of mammals. Dr. Lipov emphasizes the importance of recognizing PTSI as a physiological problem and the need for a change in mindset and stigma surrounding mental health.
In Episode 8, Dr. Eugene Lipov welcomes Paul Blavin, a seasoned social venture entrepreneur, philanthropist and — over the last 10 years — he has harnessed the power of art to inspire hope, compel action, and ignite lasting impact. Paul is also a Board member of Erase PTSD Now! ( https://www.eraseptsdnow.org/ )
- -
The conversation in the episode focuses on the importance of mental health and the need for a change in the perception and treatment of PTSD. They discuss the physiological nature of mental health issues and the impact of trauma on individuals and society. They also touch on the potential of innovative treatments like ketamine and psychedelics in addressing mental health challenges. The conversation highlights the need for a name change from PTSD to PTSI to reduce stigma and increase awareness. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of hope and the potential for positive change in the field of mental health.
In this conversation, Dr. Eugene Lipov interviews Trevor Beaman, a former Special Forces soldier, about his experiences with post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) and his journey towards healing. They discuss the concept of the wounded healer, the importance of hope in recovery, and the role of resilience in overcoming trauma.
- -
Lipov and his guest also explore the potential benefits of humor, exercise, self-respect, and exploration in managing PTSI. The conversation highlights the need for a shift in language from PTSD to PTSI to emphasize the possibility of healing and recovery. They also touch on the concept of hermesis, which suggests that what doesn't kill you can make you stronger.
Takeaways
Learn more about Trevor:
• Website: https://trevorbeaman.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevor_a_beaman/
Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D., a distinguished scientist at Indiana University where he is the Founding Director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He and Dr. Lipov discuss several topics that mostly center around the vagus nerve and the impact it can have on a person health.
Kateryna is Ukrainian who works with We Shield and Ukraine Friends, organizations that provide humanitarian help to front-line soldiers and civilians, in defense of Russia's unprovoked war with Ukraine. She is working with Dr. Lipov to provide mental health care to victims of trauma.
An in-depth discussion with Jen Satterly, CEO of All Secure Foundation and Virago, a platform for educating and inspiring Special Operations spouses and families. Jen is also the author of Arsenal of Hope. Dr. Eugene Lipov discusses the need to change the name of PTSD to PTSI and various other topics related to PTSI, Trauma and Jen's Foundations.
Dr. Frank Ochberg is a psychiatrist, a pioneer in trauma science, an educator, and the editor of the first text on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He is a graduate of Harvard and Johns Hopkins Medical School.
PROLOGUE: At certain points during this episode, you will learn about a movement to change the name associated with (and the way we think about) post-traumatic stress disorder — from PTSD to PTSI, from a diagnosis of a “disorder” to an “injury” model. The change would ultimately save so many lives and you could help effect that change.
I invite you to take part in a letter-writing campaign to the American Psychiatric Association — made especially EASY, using a form-letter that can be personalized. The first of two options involves submitting basic contact information and if you’d like to share more, there’s an opportunity to include that, as well. The printing and mailing of the letter is done on your behalf, FREE of charge. Thank you, kindly, for the consideration.
To find out more, visit bit.ly/write-the-apa
- -
ABOUT EPISODE 2: My very special guest for EP2 is Devon Larratt, a professional arm wrestler — currently ranked #1 in heavy + super-heavyweight — from Ottawa, Canada. He’s a retired military veteran who served 20 years in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). And, yes, if you watched/listened to Episode 1 with my guest Brian Leblanc, then you'll make the connection — both CANSOFCOM vets, Brian introduced Devon to me. And, I'm so glad he did!
You'll get a sense of the struggles that Devon and his family experienced, ones that ultimately gave rise to our meeting, but they're alluded to throughout the episode via Devon’s description of the treatment he received at Stella and how it effected him. His testimony dovetails into my own trauma story and the biological origins of post-traumatic stress — or PTSI (for “injury”). What follows is a discussion about how/when “PTSD” came to be and the current push to change the name/diagnosis by lobbying the American Psychiatric Association. Towards the end of the episode, Devon’s lovely wife, Jodi, joins the discussion and we discuss the phenomenon known as “secondary PTSI” and more.
- -
To find out more about Devon:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@devlarratt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devon.larratt.5
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devlarratt
Joining Dr. Lipov for Episode 1 is Brian Leblanc, a resident of Ottawa, Canada, where he lives with his spouse and two children. Brian is embarking on a new chapter in his life, as he transitions out of a 32-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) — the last 24 years within the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).
Over the last year, Brian has been focusing on his physical and mental health. During this time, he stumbled across Dr. Eugene Lipov’s groundbreaking treatment while listening to the Mike Tyson Podcast, Hot Boxing with Mike Tyson (Ep 38). Thankfully, he made a mental note of the discovery.
In August 2023, Brian witnessed one of his closest friends, Aaron Wolf, transform in front of his eyes (NOTE: Be ready to shed a tear as Brian recounts the story during Episode 1). Aaron also served in CANSOFCOM, and he had been struggling. Coaxed by Brian, the two of them traveled to Chicago for a visit with Dr. Lipov at Stella where Aaron received the ‘transformational’ treatment known as Dual Sympathetic Reset (DSR) — an innovative protocol that was pioneered by Dr. Lipov in 2013 to treat folks with severe post-traumatic symptoms, among other applications.
A few weeks later, Brian returned to Chicago — this time, accompanied by his wife, Kate Aldred. And, together, they made a trip t see Dr. Lipov. Kate received DSR for PTSI while Brian was treated with the (relatively new) SOF Protocol for Operators Syndrome, which includes four rounds of ketamine infusions to the DSR.
If you catch the video version of this episode, you'll find photos and video that Brian recorded of their visits at the very end.
“Please help spread the word. It‘s PTSI, not PTSD!”
~ Brian Leblanc
wJ13iRBFQE3x3mb2ySIz
