How to Unlearn Pain: Groundbreaking Research Offers Hope | Yoni K. Ashar

An episode of the Good Life Project podcast, hosted by Jonathan Fields / Acast, titled "How to Unlearn Pain: Groundbreaking Research Offers Hope | Yoni K. Ashar" was published on February 2, 2026 and runs 54 minutes.

February 2, 2026 ·54m · Good Life Project

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

What if chronic pain was caused by faulty wiring in your brain?And that one shift in understanding can open the door to relief many people never thought was possible.Chronic pain affects tens of millions, disrupts relationships, limits work, and quietly erodes joy. Yet for many, scans, surgeries, and medications never bring lasting relief. In this conversation, we explore why pain can persist long after the body has healed and what helps the brain finally stand down.My guest is Yoni K. Ashar, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and director of the Pain and Emotion Research Laboratory. His research uses brain imaging and clinical neuroscience to study chronic pain recovery, with a focus on Pain Reprocessing Therapy.In this episode, you’ll learnA key signal that reveals when pain is driven by the brain, not injuryA simple shift that helps interrupt the pain–fear cycleWhy imaging findings can distract from the true source of painHow the right kind of gradual exposure retrains the brain to feel safe againWhat decades of pain research reveal about lasting recoveryWhy we’ve gotten pain wrong for so long, and how to get it rightIf you’ve tried everything and still hurt, this conversation may offer a new way to understand your pain and a path toward relief. Press play to learn how unlearning pain may be possible.You can find Yoni at: Website | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Harry Reis about why love doesn't always land, even when it's real.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description

What if chronic pain was caused by faulty wiring in your brain?

And that one shift in understanding can open the door to relief many people never thought was possible.

Chronic pain affects tens of millions, disrupts relationships, limits work, and quietly erodes joy. Yet for many, scans, surgeries, and medications never bring lasting relief. In this conversation, we explore why pain can persist long after the body has healed and what helps the brain finally stand down.

My guest is Yoni K. Ashar, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and director of the Pain and Emotion Research Laboratory. His research uses brain imaging and clinical neuroscience to study chronic pain recovery, with a focus on Pain Reprocessing Therapy.

In this episode, you’ll learn

A key signal that reveals when pain is driven by the brain, not injury
A simple shift that helps interrupt the pain–fear cycle
Why imaging findings can distract from the true source of pain
How the right kind of gradual exposure retrains the brain to feel safe again
What decades of pain research reveal about lasting recovery
Why we’ve gotten pain wrong for so long, and how to get it right

If you’ve tried everything and still hurt, this conversation may offer a new way to understand your pain and a path toward relief. Press play to learn how unlearning pain may be possible.

You can find Yoni at: Website | Episode Transcript

Next week, we're sharing a really meaningful conversation with Harry Reis about why love doesn't always land, even when it's real.

Check out our offerings & partners: