Nancy Deyo is a former Silicon Valley CEO, author and speaker, and a Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute Fellow. Her forthcoming memoir, Perilous Ascent, chronicles a fifteen-year journey through misdiagnosis, chronic pain, opioid dependence, mania, and a marriage pushed to its limits.​

In this episode, Nancy shares her 15-year journey through chronic pain, opioid dependence, and personal transformation after a life-changing Kilimanjaro climb. Discover insights on pain, resilience, and redefining success beyond failure.

Follow Nancy:

• on Substack: "Life inside pain" - @nancydeyo

The Pain Factor is a Project Fourtress podcast.

Project Fourtress is a secular, humanist project, dedicated to find answers to the physical, mental and emotional pain people experience, as well as offer help to deal with these issues. To learn more about Project Fourtress, please visit fourtress.org.

Dr. Jess Armine is a functional medicine practitioner with nearly 50 years of clinical experience. He specializes in Long COVID, post-viral syndromes, and complex chronic illness. His work focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction, immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and nervous system imbalance, helping patients recover when conventional approaches fall short. He’s also a researcher, educator, and podcast host dedicated to translating complex science into practical healing strategies.

In this insightful interview, Dr. Jess Armine shares his extensive experience in functional medicine, focusing on chronic illness, pain management, and the importance of understanding the body's systems. Discover how a holistic, individualized approach can transform health and recovery.

Follow Dr. Jess Armine:

• on Instagram: #drjessarmine724
• on Facebook: facebook.com/jess.armine.2025
• on YouTube: youtube.com/@DrJessArmine

Learn more about Dr. Armine's work at www.drjessarmine.com.

The Pain Factor is a Project Fourtress podcast.

Project Fourtress is a secular, humanist project, dedicated to find answers to the physical, mental and emotional pain people experience, as well as offer help to deal with these issues. To learn more about Project Fourtress, please visit fourtress.org.

Brian Desroches, PhD, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, neuroscientist, and author of Living a Triggered Free Life.

In this eye-opening episode, Brian DesRoches reveals how your brain’s survival bias keeps you stuck in self-sabotage, anxiety, and old habits—and how, with specific techniques, you can harness neuroscience to create lasting change. You’ll discover how emotional memories—both past and “of the future”—shape your reactions and why triggers aren’t just random, but neural networks stored deep in your brain.

Purchase Brian's book here.

Learn more about Brian's work at www.briandesroches.com.

The Pain Factor is a Project Fourtress podcast.

Project Fourtress is a secular, humanist project, dedicated to find answers to the physical, mental and emotional pain people experience, as well as offer help to deal with these issues. To learn more about Project Fourtress, please visit fourtress.org.