IC You

In this episode of IC You, I sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist and chronic pelvic pain coach Rachel Gofman to talk about bladder retraining, pelvic floor dysfunction, prolapse, and the connection between the nervous system and bladder symptoms.We discuss why urgency and frequency can persist even when your bladder isn't full, how "just in case" peeing can impact bladder function, and practical strategies to retrain your bladder with less fear and frustration. Rachel also explains prolapse, when pelvic floor physical therapy can help, and how to approach healing through both a mind-body and physical therapy lens.If you've ever felt stuck between pelvic floor dysfunction, nervous system dysregulation, and chronic bladder symptoms, this conversation will help you better understand what's happening in your body and what recovery can look like.Links discussed in this episode:Listen to Rachel's story on Episode 83 of IC YouFollow Rachel on InstagramRachel's websiteWORK WITH CALLIEWatch my FREE master classJoin Road To RemissionJoin R2R Self Study (men welcome)

In this episode, I sit down with one of my Road To Remission clients, Lynn, to talk about her 15 year journey with interstitial cystitis, bladder pain, urgency, frequency, pelvic floor dysfunction, and nervous system dysregulation. After years of medications, bladder procedures, elimination diets, and fear around symptoms, Lynn shares how joining Road To Remission helped her finally start addressing the root causes of her interstitial cystitis symptoms and begin finding relief.We talk about the connection between chronic stress, trauma, perfectionism, and interstitial cystitis symptoms, along with the mindset shifts that helped her stop catastrophizing every flare. Lynn also shares how she went from planning life around bathrooms to taking road trips, exercising, going to concerts, and feeling more confident in her body again.We also discuss:• Interstitial cystitis and the nervous system• Pelvic floor physical therapy for IC• Why the IC diet kept her stuck in fear• Neuroplastic symptoms and pain science• The tools inside Road To Remission that helped her feel safe in her body again• The importance of support, education, and community during healingIf you feel stuck in the cycle of managing interstitial cystitis symptoms without long term relief, this episode will leave you feeling hopeful and understood.FREE OPEN HOUSE: Join us Monday, May 18th at 1pm EST (Lynn will be at this session) or Tuesday, May 19th at 7pm EST for a FREE Open House to learn more about Road To Remission! REGISTER HERE

On this episode of IC You, Callie’s client Faith shares her journey with interstitial cystitis (IC), from constant burning, urgency, and anxiety to living a full life with lasting IC relief.After years of confusing symptoms, negative UTI tests, and an IC diagnosis, she felt stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure what to do next. Traditional treatments did not give her answers, and her world started to feel smaller.Inside Road to Remission, Faith began addressing the root cause of her IC symptoms through nervous system work. Within weeks, she noticed changes in urgency, sleep, and overall anxiety. Over time, her symptoms continued to decrease as she built tools, confidence, and a sense of safety in her body.Now, she travels, eats freely, and no longer plans her life around interstitial cystitis.In this episode, we cover:How her interstitial cystitis symptoms started and progressedWhy traditional IC treatments did not lead to reliefThe connection between the nervous system and IC symptomsEarly wins with urgency, frequency, and sleepHow she traveled while still healing from ICThe shift from fear and control to confidence and IC reliefIf you are struggling with interstitial cystitis or looking for a different path to IC relief, this episode will show you what is possible.Want to learn what it's like to work with me inside Road To Remission? I'm hosting a FREE Open House for the program on May 18th at 1pm ET and May 19th at 7pm ET. Click here to register.

In this episode, I’m joined by Bonnie Gross, the writer and executive producer of Lady Parts, a comedy based on her real-life experience with vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, pelvic floor dysfunction, and vestibulectomy surgery.We talk about what it is actually like to live with vulvar pain, from pain with tampons, sex, sitting, tight clothes, and everyday life, to the years of medical gaslighting that so many women face before getting real answers. I also share parts of my own story with vulvodynia and surgery, which made this conversation feel especially personal.Bonnie opens up about finally getting diagnosed, undergoing a vestibulectomy, navigating recovery, and dealing with the emotional toll chronic pelvic pain can take on intimacy, relationships, mental health, and self-worth. We also talk about painful Pap smears, trauma in gynecology offices, why trauma-informed care matters, and how Lady Parts is helping more people feel seen through humor, honesty, and storytelling.This episode is for anyone dealing with vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, painful sex, chronic pelvic pain, bladder pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, or the feeling that your body is being dismissed.In this episode, we cover:Vulvodynia and neuroproliferative vestibulodyniaVestibulectomy surgery and recoveryPelvic floor dysfunction and chronic painMedical gaslighting in women’s healthPainful sex, tampons, and Pap smearsShame, intimacy, and relationshipsTrauma-informed gynecologic careBonnie’s film Lady Parts and where to watch itFollow Lady Parts & Watch The Film:Follow Lady Parts for upcoming screenings, streaming updates, and ways to support the film.WATCH THE FILM HEREWork with Callie:Join my FREE live master class on March 31/April 1stWatch my FREE master classJoin Road To Remission

In this episode of the IC You Podcast, I sit down with my client Landi to talk about her experience with interstitial cystitis, bladder pain, urgency, frequency, and burning that continued even when urine tests were negative. We talk about what happens when symptoms feel constant, why nervous system dysregulation can keep the cycle going, and how healing often looks slower and more layered than people expect.Landi shares how her life changed after years of fear, restrictive diet advice, and feeling dismissed, and what began to shift once she started addressing neuroplastic symptoms and learning how to create safety in her body again.What we talk aboutHow her symptoms began with recurring UTIs and later constant urgency, frequency, and burning without infectionReceiving an IC diagnosis and feeling lost after medications and instillations did not fully helpHow online forums and the IC diet increased food fear and anxietyDiscovering nervous system dysregulation as a major root causeThe shift from feeling at war with her body to working with itThe role of community support, emotional processing, and self compassionNervous system tools she uses daily, including journal speak, somatic movement, breathwork, tapping, and safety statementsWhat progress looks like now as she returns to concerts, shopping, and line dancingWhy she started her own podcast, Surviving and ThrivingFREE Resources/work with me:Watch my FREE master classJoin Road To Remission Join R2R Self-Study

In this episode of IC You, I sit down with Faith Ashenden to talk about mind body healing, neuroplasticity, and how our response to symptoms can shape the healing process. Faith shares her story of living with chronic illness for a decade before discovering subconscious and nervous system work that helped her recover.We discuss her recent UTI experience and why it felt like a non event, which leads into a deeper conversation about fear, identity, and the meaning we attach to flares. Faith explains how thoughts influence neurochemicals in the body, why chronic stress keeps the nervous system stuck in survival mode, and why healing often requires stepping away from the “chronically ill” identity.We also share simple, realistic ways to support your nervous system day to day, from setting phone boundaries to focusing on presence rather than perfect routines. If you want to connect with Faith or explore her work, her links are in the episode description.WORK WITH FAITH:Faith's websiteFollow Faith on InstagramWORK WITH CALLIE:Watch my FREE master classJoin Road To Remission Join Road To Remission Self-Study (men welcome)Book a 1:1 call with me (limited time offer)CALLIE'S SOCIALS:Follow me on InstagramFollow me on TiktokFollow my Youtube channel

In this episode, I’m joined by therapist Vanessa Blackstone to talk about something I see all the time in the interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder space: the belief that our bodies are too fragile to handle life.We break down how this mindset shows up through food fear, exercise avoidance, social isolation, and hypervigilance. Vanessa explains how this protective response forms, why it makes so much sense, and what to do when it’s no longer helping.We cover:How the nervous system gets stuck in fear loopsThe connection between trauma and bladder symptomsWhat you’re actually telling your body when you avoid certain triggersHow to build safety and flexibility without pushing too hardVanessa’s 4-step process to work through fear and feel more freeWe also share personal stories (including one about poop on a plane) to show that healing can include humor too.If you’ve been feeling limited, scared to live outside your routine, or unsure how to start challenging your symptoms, this one’s for you.

In this episode of IC You, I sit down with pelvic floor physical therapist and YouTube creator Dr. Brianne Grogan to talk about self love when your body feels like it has turned against you. We explore what it is like to live with bladder pain, urgency, frequency, pelvic floor symptoms, or prolapse and how easy it is to start seeing yourself as broken or defined by a diagnosis.We also dig into nervous system protection, perfectionism, comparison on social media, and why healing is rarely a straight line. Dr. Bri shares simple somatic tools, mirror work, and grounding practices so you can feel safer in your body and move through flares with more curiosity and compassion instead of blame.What You’ll Learn:• How feelings of body betrayal show up with IC, OAB, pelvic pain, prolapse, and other bladder symptoms• Why attaching your identity to a diagnosis can keep you stuck and how to gently step out of that role• The link between nervous system protection, perfectionism, and symptom flare ups• Practical self image and self love tools including movement, breath, sound, mirror work, and bone based grounding• How to view setbacks and flares as information rather than failure so you can stay compassionate and keep goingConnect with Dr. Bri:YoutubeInstagramWebsiteWork with Callie:Join Road To Remission Enroll in Road To Remission Self-StudyConnect with Callie: InstagramTiktokYoutube

Have you ever wondered if mold was the reason for your chronic symptoms?Maybe you tested positive. Maybe someone in a Facebook group swore it was the missing link. Maybe you're spending hours Googling “mold toxicity” and wondering if this is finally the answer for your bladder pain, fatigue, food sensitivities, or interstitial cystitis.If that sounds familiar, this episode is going to hit home. I’m joined by nervous system coach Grace Secker for a deep dive into mold, medical fear spirals, and why so many people with chronic bladder issues end up wasting time, energy, and money chasing the wrong root cause. Grace shares her own story of going all in on mold protocols, what didn’t work, and the emotional work that actually moved the needle on her symptoms.In the episode, we discuss:Whether mold is actually behind bladder flares, urgency, or chronic IC symptomsWhat it means when your mold test comes back positive (and why that’s not the full story)How fear of mold, food, or infection can fuel nervous system dysregulationWhy "doing everything right" and still flaring doesn’t mean you’re brokenThe deeper emotional patterns Grace had to shift to feel safe and symptom-free againCONNECT WITH GRACE:Follow Grace on InstagramFollow the Heal With Grace podcast Work with Grace inside her program: Mind-Body Healing (it's on sale through 12/31!)CONNECT WITH CALLIE:Work with me in Road To Remission Road To Remission Self-Study (for the DIY-er)InstagramTiktokFacebook

This is a recording of my free virtual Open House for Road To Remission that occurred on November 18th.If you'd prefer to watch the Open House with video, click here.Join ROAD TO REMISSION:Join the full version of Road To Remission Join the Self-Study version of Road To RemissionIf you have any questions on either program, send me a DM on Instagram

If you’re constantly planning your life around bathroom access, I see you. Not long ago, I would’ve missed half the night standing in line for the bathroom. But last week? I danced front row at the Jonas Brothers and rocked out at Aly & AJ without peeing once.And no, I didn’t just get lucky. I had a strategy.In this episode, I’m breaking down how hydration plays a massive role in bladder health, and why most people are getting it totally wrong.Here’s what I cover in the episode:What actually happens in your body when you drink waterWhy restricting fluids to pee less usually makes things worseHow hydration protects your bladder lining (and keeps urgency down)The signs you’re underhydrated or overhydratedIC-safe hydration options (teas, foods, electrolytes, etc.)Tips to sip smarter without triggering urgencyI’ll also share:My go-to hydration formulaHow to know if your pee is “normal”The hydration mistake I see most IC clients makeWhat to do if drinking water hurts or triggers frequencyWORK WITH ME:Apply to join Road To Remission for relief from interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder symptoms.Join Road To Remission Self-Study to DIY your journey to reliefFollow me on socials:InstagramTiktokFacebookYoutube

This episode dives into Amanda’s journey to find lasting interstitial cystitis relief through pelvic floor PT, nervous system work, and community support.When I was first diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC), I felt so alone and hopeless. I know many of you have been there too, left with a list of foods to avoid and told there is nothing that can really help. That is why I am so excited to share this conversation with one of my clients, Amanda.Amanda’s story is powerful. She went from constant urgency, frequency, and burning to living her life again, eating freely, enjoying holidays, and even going to a football game without fear of flares. In this episode, she opens up about what helped her find lasting IC relief and the turning points that made the biggest difference.We talk about:What it was like for Amanda to be diagnosed with interstitial cystitis in such a dismissive wayWhy the IC diet did not give her the results she hoped forHow pelvic floor PT and nervous system work gave her the breakthrough she neededThe role of community and support in finally feeling understoodHow her life looks now compared to when she first got diagnosedIf you have ever wondered if relief is possible, this episode will remind you that healing is within reach.Work with Callie:FREE Holiday Master Class on Oct 8th at 7pm ESTFind Your IC & OAB Root Cause (free evergreen master class)Join Road To Remission to get relief in 3-6 monthsJoin R2R Self-Study (the same framework without support)Connect with Callie:Follow on InstagramFollow on TiktokBe Facebook friendsFollow my Youtube channel

If you’ve ever held your bladder during a meeting, a flight, or a road trip because you didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, this episode is for you.In this episode, I’m walking you through what it means to advocate for yourself and the IC community, and why staying quiet might be protecting other people’s comfort at the expense of your own truth.In this episode, I’m breaking down:Why we’ve been trained to shrink our stories and play smallThe mindset shift that helped me stop apologizing for my symptomsSmall ways to talk about IC in everyday life (even if it feels awkward)A story about the coworker who surprised me with "I have IC too"Tangible steps to advocate for funding and researchHow sharing your story online actually moves the needleIf you've ever told yourself, “I don’t want to make people uncomfortable,” or “What’s the point, no one gets it,” I want you to really tune in. This isn’t just about becoming an advocate. It’s about refusing to gaslight yourself just to keep the peace.Whether you're explaining IC to a friend or emailing your senator, your voice matters. Your story matters. And every step you take to get a little more visible makes a difference.TAKE ACTION:Share your story on social media and tag me @callieknutritionWant help explaining IC in plain language? Go back and listen to Episode 102. It gives you actual scripts and examples for talking to loved ones.Advocate to your legislators: Check out the ICA's Advocacy Toolkit to make it easier to reach out to your state reps and join the movement for more research and funding.