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The Pain Free Athlete Podcast

The Pain Free Athlete Podcast

By: Dana Jones
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Summary

 Ready to break free from pain and take control of your recovery? Whether you're bouncing back from surgery or simply want to stay active without discomfort, this is the place for you! I'll share proven tips and strategies to help you move safely and confidently while working out. Plus, you’ll hear from top experts in fitness, rehabilitation, and pain management who are here to inspire and empower your journey to a pain-free, active lifestyle. Let’s get started!Dana Jones Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • From NBA All-Star to Mental Health Advocate: James Donaldson’s Story (ep 139)

    From NBA All-Star to Mental Health Advocate: James Donaldson’s Story (ep 139)
    May 15 2026

    In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones speaks with former NBA All-Star James Donaldson about the turning points that shaped his life on and off the court. James shares how a career-ending injury, emergency heart surgeries, major personal losses, and a mental health crisis led him to become a powerful advocate for suicide prevention and emotional honesty.


    They discuss the pressure athletes face to perform, the stigma around asking for help, and why men in particular often struggle to speak openly about what they’re going through. James also talks about the value of journaling, surrounding yourself with a trusted inner circle, and finding the right support before things reach a crisis point.


    James also shares the story behind his book, Celebrating Your Gift of Life, and explains how he uses writing, counseling, and community outreach to help others. He closes by discussing his blog, Standing Above the Crowd, and how he continues to spread awareness about mental health and suicide prevention through daily content.


    About James

    James Donaldson is a former NBA All-Star, entrepreneur, author, and community leader who enjoyed a 20-year professional basketball career with teams including the Seattle SuperSonics, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz, as well as international teams in Europe and the Harlem Globetrotters. A Washington State University graduate and 1988 NBA All-Star, James was inducted into both the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006. Beyond basketball, he founded The Donaldson Clinic and has dedicated much of his life to community service, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention through his Gift of Life Foundation. He is also the author of the books Celebrating Your Gift of Life and Standing Above the Crowd.


    Content note

    This episode includes discussion of mental health, suicide, and suicidal ideation.


    James’ Links:

    https://yourgiftoflife.org/

    https://standingabovethecrowd.com/


    https://a.co/d/09OiVFHG

    https://sites.libsyn.com/421739/site



    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.
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    29 mins
  • Back Pain Isn’t From Sitting — It’s From How You Sit (ep 138)

    Back Pain Isn’t From Sitting — It’s From How You Sit (ep 138)
    May 8 2026
    In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete Podcast, Dana Jones sits down with Esther Gokhale, leading expert in posture and natural movement, creator of the Gokhale Method, and bestselling author of Eight Steps to a Pain-Free Back. Esther shares the powerful personal story that led her to study pain-free living after struggling with severe back pain, surgery, and years of searching for answers.We talk about why so many people misunderstand posture, why sitting is not the real enemy, and how the way we move every day can either create pain or support healing. Esther explains practical ways to improve walking, sitting, standing, bending, and even sleeping so your body can recover and perform better.You’ll also hear her perspective on shoes, cushioning, squatting, sciatica, glute activation, and “downtime training” — the idea that your everyday movement habits matter just as much as what you do in the gym. Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, or someone dealing with back pain, this conversation offers simple, logical strategies to move with less pain and more confidence.About Esther:Esther Gokhale (GO-clay) has been involved in integrative therapies all her life. As a young girl growing up in India, she helped her mother, a nurse, treat abandoned babies waiting to be adopted. This early interest in healing led her to study biochemistry at Harvard and Princeton and, later, acupuncture at the San Francisco School of Oriental Medicine.After experiencing crippling back pain during her first pregnancy and unsuccessful back surgery, Gokhale began her lifelong crusade to vanquish back pain. Her studies at the Aplomb® Institute in Paris and years of research in Brazil, India, Portugal and elsewhere led her to develop the Gokhale Method, a unique, systematic approach to help people find their bodies’ way back to pain-free living.Gokhale's book, 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, has sold over 300,000 copies and has been translated into ten languages. In 2010, Gokhale hosted the nationally-televised program Back Pain: The Primal Posture™ Solution (available on DVD and streaming). The Gokhale Method continues to grow as dozens of qualified teachers, each personally trained by Gokhale, now teach the method worldwide.Gokhale has taught at corporations such as Google, IDEO, and Facebook, presented at conferences including TEDx(Stanford) and Ancestral Health Symposium, consulted for the trainers of the SF 49ers and several Stanford sports teams, and conducted workshops for physician groups at Stanford, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, PAMF, and UCSF. The New York Times gave Esther the title “The Posture Guru of Silicon Valley” in 2013.The gift to our listeners is a Free chapter of Esther's book: https://gokhalemethod.com/free_chapter?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=dana_jones Esther’s Links:Register for a Free workshop: https://gokhalemethod.com/map/free_workshops?online=1&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=dana_jones Web: https://gokhalemethod.com/Email: info@gokhalemethod.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GokhaleMethod/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gokhalemethod/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GokhaleMethodDana’s Links:⁠⁠https://www.painfreeathletepodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠10 Day Journaling Journey⁠⁠Podcast 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.
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    25 mins
  • Beyond the Game: Health Equity for Athletes (ep 137)

    Beyond the Game: Health Equity for Athletes (ep 137)
    May 1 2026

    In this episode of The Pain Free Athlete, Dana Jones sits down with Shamekka Marty, founder of Beyond the Game Health, to talk about the hidden side of athlete wellness, health equity, and what happens when the game ends but the body still carries the cost. Shamekka shares her personal journey living with lupus and multiple autoimmune conditions, her experience as a patient advocate, and how those challenges helped shape her mission to support athletes and high performers with better health education and resources. She also explains why so many athletes are dealing with invisible struggles behind the scenes, including physical pain, mental health pressure, and the stress of navigating the healthcare system.


    The conversation digs into the gaps in athlete care, especially around college sports, NIL, transition planning, and the need for stronger support systems around healthcare literacy, mental health services, and financial preparedness. Shamekka makes the case that taking care of athletes means going beyond performance and creating real access to education, comprehensive physicals, wellness events, and practical planning for life after sports. She also shares why she believes every athlete should understand supplemental insurance, healthcare resources, and the importance of protecting both their body and their future.


    About Shamekka:

    Shamekka Marty is a globally recognized patient advocate, health equity leader, and Founder & CEO of Beyond the Game Health, a sports-anchored health equity consultancy and event platform. A kidney transplant recipient and caregiver to multiple family members with chronic kidney disease, she has dedicated her career to amplifying patient voices and creating community-driven solutions to improve healthcare outcomes.


    Through Beyond the Game Health, Shamekka has built national partnerships with sports leagues, health organizations, and community groups to deliver impactful events—integrating health screenings, mental wellness resources, and education into major sporting stages such as the Super Bowl (NFL), NCAA Final Four, WNBA All Star Weekend, and upcoming FIFA 2026 activations.


    Shamekka’s Links:

    http://www.beyondthegamehealth.com/


    Insta: https://www.instagram.com/prettysicklupuschick


    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.
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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