PODCAST · health
The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast
by Simone Erdner, PhD, CMPC
Hi, I’m Simone! Welcome to The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast! This show is a labor of love. After receiving countless DMs as I navigated my own NCS journey, I realized a podcast would be the best way to connect. While it’s a solo-hosted show where I will share my personal story, I will bring in guests like doctors or fellow NCS warriors to help share other lived experiences. My goal is to offer insights into procedures & ease anxiety around scans. I suggest starting with episodes 1 & 2 for context regarding my specific journey. After that, you can choose episodes based on where you are in your NCS process. I hope this show helps you feel less alone as you navigate this space for either yourself or a loved one.Outside of hosting this show, I am a Clinical Associate Professor of Sport Psychology and the CEO and Founder of The Center for Optimal Psychological Education in Injury & Rehabilitation (The COPE Center). The COPE Center began as a passion project, which was created not only to p
Episodes
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S2E8: Updates + New Diagnoses
Hi, all, and welcome back to the NCS Podcast. It's been a little while since I've released a new episode. The past few months have been something of a whirlwind, beginning with a severe kidney infection in my transplanted kidney at the start of 2026. Interestingly, the infection occurred the day...
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S2E7, Ketamine Therapy Series, Session Two.Two
After recording my last episode on session two, something shifted in a way I didn’t expect. In this episode, I share what happened during the integration that followed, the moment my “scared self” surfaced, the tension that rose between Kyle and me, and what it felt like to finally be held in the...
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S2E6, Ketamine Therapy Series, Session Two
In this second installment of my ketamine-assisted therapy series, I walk listeners through what my second session felt like from the moments leading up to the infusion to the psychological and emotional “downloads” that emerged once the ketamine took effect. I begin by reflecting on how this...
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S2E5, Ketamine Therapy Series, Session One
In this episode, I share my experience from the first session of my ketamine-assisted therapy journey. I walk listeners through what the session looked like from a nervous-system and emotional perspective—what surprised me, what felt challenging, and what I noticed in the hours and days that...
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S2E4, Ketamine Therapy Series, Introduction
In this episode, I introduce a new mini-series within The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast focused on ketamine-assisted therapy and its role in navigating medical trauma, chronic illness, and the emotional weight of long-term health journeys. I share why I chose to explore this modality, what led me…
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S2E3: Caretaker Series with Shay & Clancey
I’m excited to continue sharing stories as part of our Caretaker Series, a space dedicated to expanding our understanding of the vital role social support systems play throughout the NCS journey. In this episode, you’ll hear from Shay and Clancey as they share their lived experiences navigating…
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S2E2: Caretaker Series with Heather & Danny
In this episode, we kick off our Caretaker Series, which a true passion project created to better support those who take care of us. You’ll hear Heather and Danny’s story as they share how they worked to understand what was medically happening, how they navigated their NCS journey, and what…
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S2E1: Welcome to Season Two!
In this episode, I offer a brief introduction to what you can expect this season, along with heartfelt gratitude to those who have been here since the very beginning, and to those who found their way here after receiving a difficult, life-altering diagnosis. I truly wish you all the very best as...
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EP28, One Year Kidney Autotransplant Update!
Happy one-year kidney autotransplant anniversary to me! It’s been a whirlwind of a year, and I wanted to take some time to share an honest update: the good, the hard, the healing, and the ongoing. In this episode, I reflect on what recovery has really looked like, what I’ve learned about my body,...
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EP27, Hernia Repair Surgery Post-Kidney Autotransplant
Hi, NCS friends! In this episode, I’m sharing my experience with developing an epigastric hernia after my kidney autotransplant. My hope is that this helps normalize the journey for those of you who may need additional surgeries after treating your NCS. I go into more detail about: When I first...
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EP26, The Best vs. Worth In-Patient Experience
Hi, my NCS besties! In this episode, I’m sharing a side-by-side look at my best and worst in-patient experiences throughout my Nutcracker Syndrome medical journey. Ten months after my kidney autotransplant, I underwent a hernia repair surgery, which is an issue that developed as a result of my...
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EP25, We All Love to Hate Insurance
Welcome back! It's been a few month hiatus from a new recording as I have been busy with work + starting a new company, The COPE Center, which is short for The Center for Optimal Psychological Education in Injury & Rehabilitation. Give the site a visit + please know I have not forgotten about you...
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EP24: Where It All Began: The Early Days of Nutcracker Syndrome with Sheri Spain
Buckle up and grab your popcorn! I am so stoked for this episode of the NCS podcast because we have an absolutely incredible guest joining us—a true advocate, pioneer, and fellow Nutcracker Syndrome patient. In this episode, Sheri Spain shares what it was like in the early days of getting…
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EP23: Can Renal Angioplasty Help NCS? + What If Your Pelvic Pain Is Endometriosis?
Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, we’re learning from one of our own—Kat—as she shares key insights from her personal journey, including: Her second IVUS experience: what it was like being awake vs. fully sedated, the pros and cons of each approach, and the benefits of seeking a...
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EP22: Mast Cell Activation Syndrome + Vascular Compressions
Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful and personal story from one of our own—Lilly. She shares her journey living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) alongside vascular compressions—specifically May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS) and Nutcracker Syndrome…
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EP21: The Marcaine Test
In this episode of the NCS Podcast, I'm joined by guest Kat Weissner to discuss her experience with the Marcaine test at UCHealth. We explore what the Marcaine test is, why someone might undergo this procedure, what to expect during the process, and important questions to ask your doctor to help...
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EP20: Internal Family Systems Therapy with Dr. Brooke Rundle
This episode is the third and final installment of our three-part series focused on mental game insights. In this episode, I take a deeper dive into my own mental health journey, specifically through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy—the primary modality that has helped me…
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EP19: Mental Game Insights, Part Two
This episode is part two of a three-part series focused on mental game insights. In it, I share practical interventions to help you mentally navigate the often-overwhelming experience of living with vascular compressions. The specific techniques I discuss include: Goal-Setting (2:55) Self-Talk...
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EP18: Mental Game Insights, Part One
This episode kicks off a three-part series focused on mental game insights. As a psychology professor, I’m setting the stage to help normalize your mental health journey through two psychological models of injury: the Three-Phase Model of Injury and the Stress-Injury Model. I’ve adapted these...
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EP17: Medications that Helped My NCS
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, I share the list of medications that helped me get to the finish line, which was my kidney autotransplant. Below is the list of medications for those that need help with spelling (like myself!) along with the dosages prescribed to me. While I…
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EP16: Dental Health + Vascular Compressions
Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, much like episode 14 where I explored the potential link between vascular compressions and hormone health, I’m taking a deeper dive into how these compressions might also impact our dental health. Personally, when my vascular symptoms first...
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EP15: Registered Dietitian Tracey Rupp Talks NCS & Kidney Health
Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! I’m super excited to share this episode with you—it features our very first guest on the show: Tracey Rupp, a Registered Dietitian who specializes in kidney health. And, I must say, you’re going to want to listen all the way through, because this episode is packed...
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EP14: Hormones + Vascular Compressions
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! This episode wasn't originally on the docket but after my hormone specialist appointment yesterday where we spoke more intimately about the relationship between hormones and endovascular, I felt it was a pertinent topic to discuss with you all. As a friendly...
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EP13: Dear Radiologists...
Welcome back to the NCS podcast. In this episode, I offer a very real + very justifiably feral reaction to some of my frustrations with radiologists as I have navigated the NCS landscape. I share my most recent run-ins with vague radiology report readings & overall want to start the conversation...
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EP12: How to Support Someone with Nutcracker Syndrome
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! I was stoked to get this episode request as it's such an important topic, which is why it's the longest episode yet. I not only share my lived experience with social support through my NCS process in this episode, but I also go full professor mode sharing the...
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EP11: Medical Travel Information
Welcome back to the NCS podcast. In this episode, I want to provide some additional details on ways to ease the financial burden of what you are going through. For many, you have to travel to see a specialist, but rest assured! There are travel options for you that can help cut costs. I offer…
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EP10: In-Patient & Post-Op Recommendations
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, I dive deeper into how to prepare for your inpatient stay, covering important topics like visitor hours, the food menu, what to bring with you, and more. Toward the end of the episode, I also share a few personal insights—what proved helpful for…
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EP9: The Nuclear Medicine Scan
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! I want to thank everyone who has tuned in to listen to my ramblings for the first couple of episodes. This was the first request I received, which jogged my memory in that, "Yes! I did do a nuclear medicine scan, and I completely forgot to talk about it on this...
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EP8: The Autotransplant Initial Consult
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! As an extension of episode 7, I wanted to zoom in on the initial consult I had with UWHealth in Madison, WI as this was a *F U L L* day of appointments/scans (9am - 3pm). As stated throughout all the episodes, I share my lived experience; thus, how the initial...
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EP7: The Autotransplant
Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! In this episode, I take a deep dive into all things kidney autotransplant—the surgery I personally opted for. As of this recording, I’m three months post-op. My surgery took place on December 19, 2024, at UW Health in Madison, WI, with Drs. Foley and Phillips…
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EP6: The Renal Hilar Block
Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! We're continuing to build episode by episode, starting with my NCS diagnosis and now diving into the specific scans and procedures that led to my kidney autotransplant. In the previous episode (#5), I shared my lived experience with the venogram. In this episode…
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EP5: The Venogram
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, I take a deep dive into all things venogram. I’ll share key tips and considerations to keep in mind before your procedure, along with a firsthand walkthrough of what the day was like for me. My goal in sharing these details is to help ease any...
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EP4: What Questions to Ask Your Doctors
Welcome back to the NCS podcast! In this episode, we’ll dive into the important questions to ask your doctors to help you determine if they’re the right fit for you. Before we get into the heart of the discussion, we take a brief detour to talk about insurance—how your plan (or lack thereof) can...
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EP3: Who to See if You Have NCS
Welcome back to the NCS Podcast! As many of you might already know, navigating the world of vascular compressions can feel like a joke—especially if you've been diagnosed with Nutcracker Syndrome. Out of my five-doctor team, only two even knew what NCS was. That’s exactly why I hope this podcast...
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EP2: My Nutcracker Syndrome journey
In this episode of the Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) Podcast, I take a deep dive into what Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) is, breaking down the condition in a way that’s easy to understand. I share my personal journey with NCS—the challenges, the milestones, and everything in between. We’ll explore the...
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EP1: Introduction
Welcome to the Nutcracker Syndrome (NCS) Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here. But if you’ve just been diagnosed, suspect you might have NCS, or are a loved one of someone navigating this condition, I also want to say—I’m sorry you have to be here. NCS is not an easy diagnosis, and my heart goes out…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hi, I’m Simone! Welcome to The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast! This show is a labor of love. After receiving countless DMs as I navigated my own NCS journey, I realized a podcast would be the best way to connect. While it’s a solo-hosted show where I will share my personal story, I will bring in guests like doctors or fellow NCS warriors to help share other lived experiences. My goal is to offer insights into procedures & ease anxiety around scans. I suggest starting with episodes 1 & 2 for context regarding my specific journey. After that, you can choose episodes based on where you are in your NCS process. I hope this show helps you feel less alone as you navigate this space for either yourself or a loved one.Outside of hosting this show, I am a Clinical Associate Professor of Sport Psychology and the CEO and Founder of The Center for Optimal Psychological Education in Injury & Rehabilitation (The COPE Center). The COPE Center began as a passion project, which was created not only to p
HOSTED BY
Simone Erdner, PhD, CMPC
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast have?
The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast currently has 36 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast about?
Hi, I’m Simone! Welcome to The Nutcracker Syndrome Podcast! This show is a labor of love. After receiving countless DMs as I navigated my own NCS journey, I realized a podcast would be the best way to connect. While it’s a solo-hosted show where I will share my personal story, I will bring in...
How often does The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast release new episodes?
The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast has 36 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast?
You can listen to The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast?
The Nutcracker Syndrome podcast is created and hosted by Simone Erdner, PhD, CMPC.
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