Explore every episode of the podcast The Headache Doctor Podcast

Could the way you breathe be making it harder for your body to recover from headaches and migraines?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explores an often-overlooked piece of the headache puzzle: breathing. Not as the root cause of headaches, but as a factor that can influence your nervous system, sleep, muscle tension, stress response, and overall threshold for pain. 

He breaks down why nasal breathing matters, how mouth breathing and poor sleep can create a cycle of increased pain sensitivity, and how breathing patterns can influence the body's fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest responses.

You'll also learn about overbreathing and CO₂ tolerance, how breathing can recruit muscles in the neck and shoulders thousands of times throughout the day, and simple strategies Dr. Taves recommends trying—including box breathing and a CO₂ tolerance step test. 

The goal isn't to claim that changing your breathing will eliminate migraines. It's to identify another factor you can work on to help your body recover, regulate stress, and potentially raise its tolerance for pain. 

👉 Get your questions about headaches, migraines, and the factors that may be affecting your pain threshold answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Do you have a headache every day that never seems to fully go away? It may feel like it started out of nowhere—but there may have been signs building long before your headaches became constant.

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains why daily headaches start, why they can become so persistent, and what it takes to begin breaking the cycle.

He breaks down how occasional headaches or migraines can progress into daily pain and explores factors that may push the system past its threshold—including neck, jaw, and shoulder dysfunction, stress, poor sleep, illness, inflammation, and changes in general health.

You'll also learn about central sensitization—when the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to pain signals—and why recovering from long-standing daily headaches often requires addressing both the underlying source of pain and the brain's heightened response to it.

Dr. Taves also discusses the role of medication, lifestyle, movement, sleep, nutrition, stress, and why a comprehensive plan may be necessary when headaches have been present for months or years.

👉 Get your questions about daily headaches and chronic migraines answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 

Novera: Headache Center

Sharp, burning, stabbing, or electrical pain in the back of your head, scalp, or behind your eye may lead to a diagnosis of occipital neuralgia or trigeminal neuralgia. But does that mean the nerve itself is the underlying problem?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains how to tell whether your symptoms may involve more than the nerve—and why your neck could be an important part of the picture.

He breaks down the anatomy behind occipital and trigeminal nerve pain, referred pain, and the trigeminal cervical complex. He also shares clues that may point toward neck involvement, including restricted neck movement, symptoms triggered by posture or prolonged sitting, tenderness at the base of the skull, and pain that begins in the neck and travels upward.

You’ll also learn why Dr. Taves cautions against assuming that relief from a nerve block, injection, medication, or ablation proves the nerve itself was the original source of the problem—and what he recommends looking at instead.

Plus, in Ask the Headache Doctor, Dr. Taves responds to people who spent years trying to get providers to recognize the connection between their neck pain and headaches or migraines.

👉 Get your questions about occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and neck-related headaches answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

If you’ve been diagnosed with vestibular migraine—or you live with ongoing dizziness, vertigo, or that constant “on a ship” feeling—there may be an important part of the picture that hasn’t been fully evaluated.

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains why our healthcare system can miss the underlying cause of vestibular migraine—and what to look for instead.

He breaks down the three systems your brain relies on for balance and orientation:

• The visual system
• The vestibular system
• The neck and proprioceptive system

While the inner ear is often evaluated thoroughly, and vision is sometimes considered, Dr. Taves explains why neck function is frequently overlooked—even though your brain depends on information from the neck to understand where your head and body are in space.

You’ll also learn:

• How BPPV differs from other types of dizziness
• Why visual coordination matters
• How neck tension and altered proprioception may contribute to dizziness
• Why vestibular migraine is often multifactorial
• What to look for when testing has not given you a clear answer

Plus, in Ask the Headache Doctor, Dr. Taves answers questions about food triggers and migraine threshold, and explains how Novera’s neck treatment approach differs from chiropractic manipulation.

👉 Get your questions about vestibular migraine, dizziness, and neck-related headaches answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 

Novera: Headache Center

What if chronic pain isn't simply something to silence—but a message your body is trying to send?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves sits down with Leigh Brandon, author of Beyond the Pain, functional medicine provider, manual therapist, and C.H.E.K practitioner, to explore why some people remain stuck in chronic pain despite medications, injections, exercises, or even surgery.

Leigh breaks chronic pain down into four potential root-cause categories:

• Structural and biomechanical problems
• Metabolic factors like nutrition, digestion, hormones, and inflammation
• Nervous system dysregulation and sensitization
• Emotional factors and trauma

They also discuss why pain can be protective rather than simply harmful, how the nervous system can remain hypersensitive after an injury has healed, and practical ways to start identifying patterns behind your own symptoms.

If you've been in pain for years and feel like you've already tried everything, this conversation offers a different framework for understanding what your body may be telling you.

👉 Get your questions about chronic pain, headaches, migraines, and finding the root cause answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 

Novera: Headache Center

What does it actually mean if you have migraine with aura vs. migraine without aura—and should that distinction determine how you approach treatment?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains why visual disturbances, light and sound sensitivity, numbness, and other neurological symptoms can feel alarming, but focusing entirely on those symptoms may keep you from asking a more important question: What's making the system so sensitive in the first place?

You'll learn:

• What migraine aura can look and feel like
• Why some people experience aura without significant head pain
• How the trigeminal cervical complex processes signals from the head, face, and neck
• Why migraine symptoms can vary dramatically from person to person
• How the jaw, occipital nerves, and upper neck may contribute to the pain pathway
• Why chasing individual symptoms can lead to a cycle of trigger avoidance and symptom management

Plus, in Ask the Headache Doctor, Dr. Taves answers questions about treating the upper neck with cervical instability and why Botox may work for migraines for years before seemingly stopping.

👉 Get your questions about migraine with aura, unusual migraine symptoms, neck-related headaches, and finding the root cause answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

What if your migraine diagnosis isn't necessarily wrong—but it isn't telling you the whole story?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves shares five clues that your headaches or migraines may have an overlooked neck-related component. Instead of looking only at symptoms like nausea, light sensitivity, throbbing, and one-sided pain, he explains why it's important to ask what's actually driving your nervous system to become so sensitive in the first place.

The 5 clues he breaks down are:

1. Your pain starts in—or is connected to—your neck
2. Weather and barometric pressure changes trigger your symptoms
3. Exercise triggers a headache or migraine
4. Your symptoms are consistently one-sided
5. You have ongoing jaw, neck, or shoulder tension

Dr. Taves also explains why normal X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans don't necessarily tell you how well your neck is moving or functioning—and why these clues may warrant a closer look at the neck, jaw, and shoulders.

Plus, in Ask the Headache Doctor, Dr. Taves answers questions about distinguishing cervicogenic headaches from migraines and the role hormonal changes may play in migraine threshold.

If you've had migraines for years, tried medication after medication, and still feel like you're missing an explanation, this episode will give you five specific things to consider.

👉 Get your questions about migraine diagnosis, neck-related headaches, and finding the root cause answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Could what’s happening in your gut be affecting how vulnerable you are to migraines?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves sits down with functional health practitioner Taylor Knese of Mod Health Co. to explore the connection between gut health, hormones, stress, inflammation, and migraine threshold.

They break down how the gut communicates with the brain, why digestion and bowel movements can offer clues about your overall health, and how imbalances involving estrogen, histamine, stress, and the gut microbiome may contribute to a lower migraine threshold.

You’ll learn:

• How the gut and brain communicate through the vagus nerve
• Why gut health may influence inflammation and migraine threshold
• The connection between estrogen, histamine, and hormonal migraines
• How chronic stress can affect digestion and gut motility
• What your bowel movements may reveal about your digestive health
• Why walking, sleep, chewing your food, and eating a diverse whole-food diet matter
• How gut health fits into a bigger, whole-body approach to migraines

If you’ve focused on your headaches but never considered your digestion, hormones, or gut health, this conversation may help you see another piece of the migraine puzzle.

Special Offer from Mod Health Co: Use discount code DRTAVES with Mod Health Co. to receive the listener discount mentioned in this episode. 

👉 Get your questions about gut health, hormones, migraine triggers, and improving your migraine threshold answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Do your headaches build throughout the day—then sometimes turn into a migraine?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains why tension headaches and migraines may not be two completely separate problems. A band-like headache, neck tightness, and shoulder tension can build over time, while a more irritated joint in the upper neck may create a sharper, one-sided migraine pattern.

Rather than treating one as a muscle problem and the other as a neurological problem, Dr. Taves looks at both through one unified lens: the mechanics of the neck, shoulders, and jaw.

You’ll learn:

• Why tension headaches often worsen throughout the day
• How prolonged sitting and forward posture load the neck and shoulders
• Why a broad, band-like headache feels different from a one-sided migraine
• How both patterns may still come from related mechanical problems
• Practical ways to reduce tension, move more, and build resilience

Plus, in this week’s Ask the Headache Doctor segment, Dr. Taves answers questions about headaches after sitting through several classes, migraines that continue despite healthy lifestyle changes, and being told migraines are “all stress.”

👉 Get your questions about tension headaches, migraines, neck tension, and finding the root cause answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Is migraine really a neurological disease—or could your neck be the missing piece?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves challenges one of the most common beliefs about migraines. He explains why a migraine diagnosis is based on symptoms—not necessarily the underlying cause—and why many people continue searching for answers after normal MRIs, CT scans, and medications.

You'll learn how the neck, jaw, and shoulders can send pain into the same pathways that process migraine symptoms, why imaging often misses the real problem, and a simple self-assessment you can do at home to see whether your neck may be contributing to your headaches.

You'll learn:

• Why migraine is a diagnosis based on symptoms
• What MRIs and CT scans are actually designed to rule out
• How the trigeminal nerve processes head and facial pain
• Why neck dysfunction can create migraine-like symptoms
• Why medications manage symptoms but don't identify the source
• Four simple ways to assess whether your neck may be involved

If you've been told your scans are normal but you're still living with chronic migraines, this episode may change the way you think about what's really causing your symptoms.

👉 Get your questions about migraines, neck-related headaches, and finding the root cause answered inside our Free Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Is your dizziness coming from your inner ear… your eyes… or something almost everyone overlooks?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains why dizziness, vertigo, and vestibular migraines are often more complex than they seem. He breaks down the three major systems that help your brain maintain balance—and why treating only one or two of them may leave you searching for answers.

You'll learn:

• The difference between dizziness, vertigo, and vestibular migraine
• How the inner ear contributes to balance problems
• Why your visual system may be making dizziness worse
• The often-overlooked role your neck plays in balance and vestibular symptoms
• Why normal testing doesn't always rule out the true source of your symptoms
• How addressing all three systems may lead to better long-term outcomes

Plus, in this week's Ask The Headache Doctor segment, Dr. Taves answers listener questions about:

• Being told dizziness is "just stress"
• Vestibular testing that seemed to make symptoms worse
• When to keep pursuing answers after you've hit a dead end

If you've been living with unexplained dizziness, vertigo, or vestibular migraines, this episode will help you better understand what could be driving your symptoms—and why one important piece is often missed.

👉 Get your questions about dizziness, vertigo, vestibular migraine, and finding the root cause answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

What exactly is a cervicogenic headache, and could it be the diagnosis that's been missing all along?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains one of the most overlooked diagnoses in headache care—a headache that originates from the neck. He discusses why neck dysfunction is frequently mistaken for migraine, why imaging often fails to identify the real problem, and how using the right language with your healthcare providers could completely change your treatment approach.

You'll learn:

• What a cervicogenic headache is
• Why neck problems are often mistaken for migraines
• How neck dysfunction can refer pain into the head, face, and behind the eye
• Why X-rays and MRIs don't always identify the underlying issue
• Questions to ask your doctor or physical therapist
• Why improving neck function may help reduce headaches instead of simply masking symptoms

Plus, Dr. Taves answers listener questions about:

• Chronic headaches after whiplash
• Migraines triggered by lifting grocery bags
• Whether triptans prove you have migraines
• Daily headaches that start behind one eye

If you've been told everything looks "normal" but you're still living with headaches or migraines, this episode may change the way you think about your diagnosis—and your path toward recovery.

👉 Get your questions about neck-related headaches, cervicogenic headaches, migraine symptoms, and finding the root cause answered inside our Free Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Most people think all stress is bad—but what if avoiding every stressor is actually making your body less resilient?

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Dr. Taves explores the concept of good stress and how the right kinds of short-term challenges can help your body become stronger, healthier, and more resilient to headaches and migraines.

From exercise and cold exposure to learning new skills and building physical capacity, you'll learn why health isn't about eliminating stress—it's about adapting to it.

You'll learn:

• The difference between good stress and chronic stress
• Why resilience matters for headache recovery
• How exercise can increase your headache threshold over time
• The science behind hormesis and positive adaptation
• Why recovery is just as important as the stress itself
• Practical ways to safely build physical and mental resilience

If you've been avoiding movement, exercise, or other challenges because you're afraid they'll trigger a headache, this episode offers a different perspective on how building resilience may be part of your recovery.

👉 Get your questions about stress, exercise, resilience, and headache recovery answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Everyone says stress causes headaches—but what does that actually mean?

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Taves explains what stress is, how it affects your body, and why chronic stress can increase headaches and migraines.

Rather than blaming stress itself, this episode explores how your body's stress response can lower your pain threshold, increase muscle tension, and make headaches more likely. Most importantly, you'll learn practical strategies to help your body recover from chronic stress.

You'll learn:

• What stress actually is and why it's a normal part of life
• The difference between healthy stress and chronic stress
• How chronic stress lowers your headache threshold
• Why stress causes neck, jaw, and shoulder tension
• How stress affects your nervous system, hormones, sleep, and overall health
• Practical ways to calm your nervous system and reduce headache triggers

If you've ever said, "My headaches are just caused by stress," this episode will help you understand what's really happening inside your body—and what you can do about it.

👉 Get your questions about stress, headaches, nervous system regulation, and root-cause healing answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Do your migraines change around your period, during pregnancy, postpartum, or through menopause?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves and Dr. Sarah Thomas break down how female hormone changes can impact headaches and migraines across different stages of life.

They explain why estrogen fluctuations can lower your threshold for pain, why symptoms often worsen around your period or perimenopause, and why pregnancy may improve migraines for some women but worsen them for others.

You’ll learn:

•  Why migraines often change with your cycle 
•  How estrogen affects headache sensitivity 
•  Why puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause matter 
•  How birth control can either help or worsen headaches 
•  Why hormones may be a trigger—but not the root cause 

If you’ve noticed your migraines shifting with hormonal changes, this episode will help you better understand what’s happening and what you can do next.

👉 Get your questions about hormonal migraines, menstrual headaches, pregnancy-related headaches, and root-cause healing answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 

Novera: Headache Center

You got an MRI. It showed a Chiari malformation. Now what?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down what a Chiari malformation is, why it shows up on MRI, and whether it’s actually the cause of your headaches, migraines, dizziness, or neck pain.

You’ll learn why imaging findings don’t always tell the full story, when surgery may be worth considering, and why neck tension, mobility, and function still matter.

If you’ve been diagnosed with Chiari and feel unsure about your next step, this episode will help you think through your options more clearly.

👉 Get your questions about Chiari malformations, headaches, dizziness, neck pain, and root-cause healing answered inside our Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Seeing flashing lights, zigzags, blind spots, or visual disturbances before a migraine?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves is joined by Novera headache specialist Dr. Kristen Bellasaro to break down ocular migraines, retinal migraines, and migraine with aura.

They explain the differences between these diagnoses, why visual symptoms can be so alarming, and how the traditional medical model often focuses on symptom management rather than identifying the root cause.

You’ll learn:

• What an ocular migraine actually is
• The difference between retinal migraine and migraine with aura
• Why some migraines cause visual disturbances without head pain
• What cortical spreading depression means—and why it may not explain the root cause
• How neck dysfunction can contribute to visual symptoms and migraine presentations
• Why these symptoms are often treatable, even when imaging is normal

If visual symptoms, flashing lights, blind spots, or aura have left you feeling confused or worried, this episode will help you better understand what may actually be happening.

👉 Get your questions about ocular migraines, migraine aura, visual disturbances, and root-cause healing answered inside our Free Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

What if your headaches are actually coming from your neck?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down one of the most overlooked—and most important—headache diagnoses: cervicogenic headache.

A cervicogenic headache simply means a headache that originates from the neck. Yet despite being incredibly common, it’s often missed, misdiagnosed, or mistaken for migraines, occipital neuralgia, vestibular disorders, and other headache conditions.

Dr. Taves explains why traditional imaging often misses the problem, how the upper neck can refer pain into the head and face, and why understanding the source of your symptoms is critical for finding lasting relief.

We cover:

• What a cervicogenic headache actually is
• Why neck problems are frequently overlooked
• How neck dysfunction can create migraine-like symptoms
• Why X-rays and MRIs often miss the root issue
• The connection between cervicogenic headaches and dizziness
• How the three-spoke framework helps uncover the real cause of symptoms

If you’ve been told your scans are normal but you still have headaches, migraines, dizziness, or pain behind the eye, this episode may change the way you think about your symptoms.

👉 Get your questions about neck-related headaches, cervicogenic headaches, dizziness, and root-cause healing answered inside our FREE Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Novera: Headache Center

Migraines can feel isolating—but you’re not alone.

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves and Dr. Sarah Thomas break down the stories of celebrities, athletes, musicians, and performers who have publicly struggled with headaches and migraines.

From Lady Gaga and Serena Williams to Hugh Jackman and Terrell Davis, this episode highlights how migraines impact people at every level—including some of the most successful individuals in the world.

But this episode isn’t about celebrity gossip. It’s about hope.

We cover:

•  The different ways migraines affect high performers 
•  Why stress, sleep, hormones, exercise, and neck tension matter 
•  What vestibular migraines, hormonal migraines, and exercise-triggered migraines can look like 
•  Common coping strategies celebrities have used 
•  Why migraines don’t have to define your future 

If headaches or migraines have made you feel isolated, discouraged, or stuck, this episode is a reminder that your symptoms do not define your potential.

👉 Get your questions about migraines, vestibular symptoms, hormones, neck tension, and root-cause healing answered inside our Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 👉

Podcast Sources

Novera: Headache Center

If you take medication for headaches or migraines, it’s important to understand what it can help with—and what it was never designed to fix.

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down the role of medication in headache and migraine management, including how medications can reduce symptoms, why they don’t address the root cause, and how to think about medication as one tool—not the whole solution.

We cover:

• What medication can do for migraine symptoms
• What medication can’t fix when it comes to root causes
• Why symptom relief is different from healing
• How medications affect pain signals, transmission, and perception
• Why many people feel stuck in a cycle of symptom management
• Natural ways to support your body through sleep, movement, sunlight, nutrition, and stress regulation

If you’ve ever wondered whether your medication is helping, masking the problem, or keeping you stuck in a cycle, this episode will help you think about migraine relief more clearly.

👉 Get your questions about migraine medication, symptom relief, and root-cause healing answered inside our Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about 

Novera: Headache Center

Waking up with headaches? Your pillow—and your sleep—might be the problem.

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, we break down one of the most overlooked drivers of headaches and migraines: sleep.

From pillow support and sleep position to nighttime routines and breathing patterns, this episode gives you a practical checklist to identify what could be disrupting your sleep—and contributing to your headaches.

We cover:

•  Why your pillow might be causing neck strain and morning headaches 
•  The best sleep positions to reduce headache risk 
•  When your mattress actually matters (and when it doesn’t) 
•  How your nighttime routine and screen time impact sleep quality 
•  Why mouth breathing and airway issues can trigger headaches 

If you’re waking up with headaches, dealing with daily headaches, or constantly trying to fix your sleep setup—this episode will help you figure out what’s actually going on.

🛏️ Check out the pillows we recommend here: https://www.noveraheadachecenter.com/recommended-products/

👉 Get your questions about sleep, pillows, and headache-related symptoms answered inside our Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about

Novera: Headache Center

Do your headaches feel like a tight band around your head that gets worse as the day goes on?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, we break down tension-type headaches—one of the most common (and frustrating) types of headaches people experience.

You’ll learn why these headaches build throughout the day, what’s actually causing that pressure and tightness, and what you can start doing to reduce or prevent them—without relying on medication.

We cover:

• What tension headaches feel like and how to identify them
• Why posture, desk work, and daily habits play a major role
• The connection between neck, shoulders, and head pain
• Why rest alone doesn’t fix the problem
• Practical strategies to reduce tension and build resilience

If you’re dealing with daily headaches, afternoon crashes, or constant tightness in your head and neck, this episode will give you a clearer path forward.

👉 Get your questions about tension headaches answered in our Virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about

Novera: Headache Center

Could mold in your home be the reason behind your headaches or migraines?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Jono Taves and Dr. Sarah Thomas break down one of the most commonly blamed—but often misunderstood—triggers: mold.

While mold is frequently linked to headaches online, the real answer is more nuanced. This episode explores what the research actually says, when mold might matter, and why it’s rarely the root cause on its own.

You’ll learn:

• Whether mold truly causes headaches and migraines
• How mold affects your immune system and pain sensitivity
• Why some people react to mold while others don’t
• When mold exposure is worth investigating
• How this fits into a root-cause approach to headache treatment

If you’ve wondered whether your environment could be contributing to your symptoms—or you’ve been told mold is the problem—this episode will help you think about it clearly and make smarter decisions.

Get your questions about mold answered in our virtual Headache & Migraine Community: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about

Sources:

• Mold and Your Health – Illinois Department of Public Health
• Mold Allergy: Symptoms & Causes – Mayo Clinic
• An Overview of the Innate Immune System
• Fungal Exposure and Health Effects (PMC Article) – National Library of Medicine
• Environmental & Physical Factors (Headaches) – National Headache Foundation
• Mold and Neurological Symptoms – Healthline
• Toxic Mold & Health Effects – American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
• Lyme Disease: Symptoms & Causes – Mayo Clinic
• Black Mold: Symptoms & Health Effects – Cleveland Clinic

Novera: Headache Center

You’ve seen the eye doctor. You’ve been told everything looks normal.
 So why does your eye still hurt?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, we unpack one of the most frustrating experiences for headache and migraine sufferers—ongoing eye pain with no clear diagnosis.

Using a simple “kinked hose” analogy, we explain why the pain you feel behind your eye is often not coming from your eye at all—and what’s actually driving it.

You’ll learn:

•  Why eye exams often come back normal despite real pain 
•  How pain can be referred from the neck, jaw, and shoulders 
•  Why medications may dull symptoms but don’t fix the root cause 
•  A clearer, root-cause approach to resolving headaches and migraines 

If you feel stuck, dismissed, or confused about your symptoms, this episode will help you finally make sense of your eye pain—and point you toward real solutions.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, we explore why community is the missing piece in long-term migraine and headache relief—and how a root-cause approach can help you break free from dependence on medication.

If you’ve been stuck between consuming free content and committing to full treatment, this episode introduces a new solution: a supportive community designed to help you take action, build habits, and stay consistent.

We dive into:

• Why quick fixes (like medication) often fall short
• The three core pillars of headache relief: physical structure, barriers, and overall health
• How lifestyle changes—not just one “magic fix”—create lasting results
• The role of the nervous system in pain, movement, and recovery
• Simple, practical strategies to start calming pain and improving function today

You’ll also learn how being part of a like-minded community can accelerate your progress, keep you accountable, and help you finally feel in control of your health.

If you’re ready to move beyond temporary relief and toward a real, lasting solution for migraines and headaches, this episode is for you.

We’ve also opened up our Headache & Migraine Community—designed to help you apply what you’re learning and stay consistent: https://www.skool.com/headache-freedom/about

Novera: Headache Center

If you’ve been dealing with jaw pain, headaches, dizziness, or brain fog—and no one can give you clear answers—this episode is for you.

Dr. Jono Taves sits down with TMJ and neck pain specialist Dr. Joe Damiani to break down the real cause behind these frustrating symptoms.

Most people are told to see a dentist, ENT, or neurologist—but often leave without answers. That’s because these issues are rarely caused by just one thing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 3 main causes of TMJ pain: joint, neck, and stress-related tension
• Why your jaw pain may actually be coming from your neck
• The connection between TMJ, headaches, dizziness, and brain fog
• How the nervous system creates pain loops that keep symptoms going
• Simple self-assessments to help you find your root cause
• Practical strategies to reduce pain and improve movement

If you’re tired of chasing symptoms and want real answers, this episode will help you understand what’s actually causing your pain—and what to do next.

Novera: Headache Center

Are migraines genetic—or are you stuck with headaches because they run in your family?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down the truth about genetics and migraines. While family history can increase your risk, it doesn’t mean you’re destined to live with headaches forever.

You’ll learn how genetics influence your body’s pain threshold, brain chemistry, and anatomy—but why they are NOT the root cause of your headaches. Dr. Taves introduces the Three Spoke Framework to explain how headaches actually develop and what you can do to take control of them.

If you’ve ever been told “it’s just genetic,” this episode will challenge that belief and give you a clear, actionable path forward.

👉 You are not stuck—and this episode will show you why.

Novera: Headache Center

Can yoga actually help relieve headaches and migraines?

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves sits down with Amber Richmond, owner of Cambio Yoga, to explore how yoga can reduce headache frequency, ease tension, and improve overall well-being.

Amber shares her personal journey with headaches and explains how yoga goes beyond stretching—impacting stress levels, breathing patterns, posture, and nervous system regulation. You’ll learn how simple practices like diaphragmatic breathing, deep rest (Yoga Nidra), and mindful movement can shift your body out of fight-or-flight and into healing mode.

Whether you’re new to yoga or already practicing, this episode will give you practical tools to help manage headaches naturally and build long-term resilience.

What you’ll learn:

•  How stress contributes to headaches and migraines 
•  Why breathing techniques can calm your nervous system 
•  The role of posture (like forward head position) in headache pain 
•  What types of yoga are best for beginners or chronic pain 
•  How “deep rest” (Yoga Nidra) can accelerate recovery 
•  How to use yoga beyond the mat to prevent headaches

Novera: Headache Center

If you suffer from headaches or migraines, this episode breaks down three simple, practical exercises that could help reduce your symptoms—starting today.

Dr. Taves shares the “low-hanging fruit” strategies used at Novera Headache Center that have helped many patients experience real relief without relying solely on medication.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why chin tucks can relieve tension at the base of your skull
• How a foam roller pec stretch improves posture and reduces strain
• The power of breathing exercises to calm your nervous system and decrease headache frequency

These techniques are simple, accessible, and designed to fit into your daily routine—even if you’re currently dealing with chronic pain.

While headaches and migraines can be complex, these foundational habits may be the missing piece in your recovery.

👉 Try them consistently and see what changes.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of the Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Jono Taves shares the three most important lessons he’s learned after a decade of helping patients with chronic headaches and migraines.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated navigating the healthcare system, relying on medication, or still searching for answers about your migraines, this conversation will challenge how you think about head pain.

Dr. Taves explains why migraines may not be the spontaneous neurological events many people are told they are, how common treatments like Botox and nerve ablations reveal important clues about the true source of pain, and why relief from a treatment doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found the root cause.

You’ll also learn why some of the most debilitating migraine problems can sometimes have surprisingly simple solutions—especially when underlying issues in the neck, jaw, and upper spine are properly addressed.

If you're looking for a more practical and empowering approach to understanding migraines, this episode will help you rethink what might actually be causing your headaches and what steps you can take next.

Novera: Headache Center

Daylight Saving Time can disrupt your sleep—and that disruption can directly affect headaches and migraines.

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Jono Taves explains why sleep quality is one of the most important foundations for reducing headache and migraine frequency. As the clocks change and we lose an hour of sleep, many people experience increased fatigue, higher stress levels, and a lower tolerance for pain.

Dr. Taves breaks down how sleep influences your pain threshold, inflammation, neurotransmitters, and nervous system regulation, and why poor sleep can make headache triggers hit harder.

You’ll also learn practical strategies to improve sleep quality, including optimal sleep positions, breathing techniques, and simple habits that support a healthier circadian rhythm.

If headaches or migraines tend to worsen around daylight saving time, this episode will help you understand why—and what you can do to protect your sleep and raise your body’s resilience to pain.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why sleep is critical for headache and migraine recovery
• How poor sleep lowers your pain tolerance and increases inflammation
• Why daylight saving time can trigger more headaches and migraines
• The best sleep positions to reduce neck tension and pain
• How nasal breathing and sleep routines improve sleep quality
  
  

Simple ways to protect your circadian rhythm and nervous system

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Jono Taves explains why having a clear migraine treatment plan is one of the most important factors in long-term healing.

Too often, headache and migraine sufferers are given medication without a clear explanation of why their symptoms are happening or how to move forward. Dr. Taves shares a personal story from his newborn son’s recent hospital stay to illustrate how powerful it is when a provider explains the “why” and lays out a clear direction.

You’ll learn:

• Why uncertainty makes migraines feel worse
• The difference between symptom suppression and root-cause care
• Why time can work for you instead of against you
• How the Three-Spoke framework identifies the source of pain, barriers to healing, and systemic health contributors

Why medication alone often fails to solve chronic headaches
If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or dismissed in your migraine care, this episode will help you understand why having a plan changes everything.

Novera: Headache Center

Can your vision be driving your headaches, dizziness, or brain fog—even if you have 20/20 eyesight?

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves sits down with neuro-optometrist Dr. Michael Saxerud to explore how the brain processes vision and why visual dysfunction is often an overlooked root cause of headaches and migraines.

They break down the difference between eyesight and brain-based vision, and how misalignment between the eyes, vestibular system, and neck can create symptoms like:

• Headaches and migraines
• Light sensitivity
• Dizziness and nausea
• Brain fog
• Poor balance or clumsiness
• Reading fatigue and difficulty concentrating

Dr. Saxerud explains how tools like yoked prism lenses, peripheral occlusion (tape on glasses), and syntonic light therapy help recalibrate the brain’s sense of “self in space,” reducing stress on the nervous system and improving function

If you’ve been told your eyes are “fine” but you still struggle with headaches or visual discomfort, this episode will open your eyes to a powerful, non-medication approach to relief.

Novera: Headache Center

The supplement industry is a mess—and for people with headaches and migraines, choosing the wrong supplements can mean wasted money or even worsening symptoms.

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves is joined by functional medicine nutritionist Hallie to break down how to choose supplements that actually work. They explain why most supplements are poorly regulated, how to spot high-quality brands, and which supplements are essential for people with headaches and migraines.

You’ll learn:

• Why many popular supplements don’t contain what they claim
• The importance of third-party testing and absorption rates
• The four daily “low-hanging fruit” supplements most people need
• How nutrient deficiencies can drive headaches and migraines
• Why medical-grade supplements often outperform big-box brands

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or skeptical about supplements, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to make smarter choices—and support your body at the cellular level.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Live Nourished Coaching – Functional medicine nutrition and root-cause health coaching with Hallie
  https://livenourishedcoaching.com/
  
  
• Three International – Advanced, high-absorption nutraceutical supplements discussed in this episode

Novera: Headache Center

Gut health can be a hidden driver of chronic migraines—especially when it shows up as sugar cravings, inflammation, and hormone imbalance. In this episode, Dr. Taves and functional medicine nutritionist Hally Brooks explain how gut dysfunction and microbiome imbalance can lower your migraine threshold, why sugar cravings are often biology-driven (not just willpower), and how PCOS/estrogen dominance can overlap with headache patterns.

At Novera, we teach that lasting migraine relief requires addressing three essential components. This episode is a deep dive into Component #3: overall health.

Novera: Headache Center

If you’re looking for long-term migraine relief (not temporary fixes), this episode breaks down the three essentials you can’t overlook.

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains Novera Headache Center’s Three-Spoke Framework for true, root-cause migraine relief:

1. The source of pain (often the neck, jaw, and shoulders)
2. Why you got here (hidden barriers like airway issues, hypermobility, or past injuries)
3. Your general health threshold (sleep, stress, gut health, hormones)

You’ll learn why triggers like food, weather, exertion, or hormones don’t fully explain migraine pain—and why addressing only one piece of the puzzle often leads to short-term relief that doesn’t last.

Novera: Headache Center

How treatable are your headaches or migraines — and what determines how quickly you can see relief?

In this episode, Dr. Jono Taves breaks down why all headaches are treatable, but not all follow the same recovery timeline. Drawing from over a thousand real patient cases, he explains how symptom frequency, pain patterns, and overall health help predict how the body responds to care.

Dr. Taves walks through the key differences between constant daily headaches and intermittent migraines, explains the role of central sensitization, and shows why headaches that start in the neck often respond more quickly when the mechanical source is addressed. He also clarifies why many headache diagnoses are based on symptoms rather than root cause — and how that affects long-term outcomes.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your headaches are “too chronic,” “too complex,” or “too ingrained” to improve, this episode offers clarity, realistic expectations, and hope grounded in clinical experience.

Novera: Headache Center

If you experience stabbing, burning, or behind-the-eye pain—and have been told it’s trigeminal neuralgia or a migraine—this episode will help you understand what may really be happening. Dr. Taves breaks down the trigeminal nerve, its three branches, and how the trigeminal pathway connects facial pain with the upper neck and brainstem.

You’ll learn why the trigeminal nerve is often blamed for migraines and facial pain, why pain perception isn’t always a reliable indicator of tissue damage, and how neck dysfunction can trigger the brain to interpret pain as coming from the eye, temple, jaw, or forehead.

This episode also explains why common migraine models often label neck pain as “secondary,” and why a more complete view of referral patterns and neuroanatomy may unlock real long-term relief.

Novera: Headache Center

Many people with headaches and migraines don’t realize their eyes may be contributing to symptoms. In this episode, Dr. Taves speaks with optometrist and dry eye specialist Dr. Pam Theriot about the growing connection between screen time, dry eye disease, eye strain, and headache symptoms.

Dr. Theriot explains how prolonged screen use reduces blink rate dramatically—from about 21 blinks per minute to around 7—which prevents the eyelids from releasing oils that protect the eye’s tear film. Over time, this can lead to chronic dry eye disease, fluctuating vision, and discomfort that may feel like pressure or pain behind the eyes. 

The conversation also highlights why dry eye disease is affecting younger patients than ever, how workstation setup impacts eye strain, and practical daily habits to protect long-term eye and head health. Dr. Theriot shares actionable strategies including the 20-20-20 rule, screen positioning tips, and a simple at-home test to check for dryness. 

If you struggle with headaches, eye strain, or migraines—especially in a screen-heavy lifestyle—this episode offers a holistic, preventative approach to improving both eye comfort and overall wellness. 

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down a question many people ask after years of suffering: What is a migraine — and why does the definition matter?

Dr. Taves explains how migraines are diagnosed in today’s healthcare system, what symptoms typically qualify someone for a migraine label, and why migraine is often categorized as a primary headache—meaning it’s treated as something with no clear cause and managed mainly with medication. 

He also explores why that model can be limiting for patients who want long-term improvement, and why focusing only on the diagnosis can prevent deeper investigation into what may be driving symptoms like head pain, nausea, light/sound sensitivity, and neurological changes. 

This episode challenges common assumptions about migraines and offers a hopeful perspective: if symptoms have an underlying cause, they may be more treatable than most people realize. 

Novera: Headache Center

If you’ve tried everything for headaches or migraines and still feel stuck, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explains why evaluating both the neck and shoulders is critical for long-term headache and migraine relief—and why so many treatment approaches fall short.

You’ll learn why the upper neck (C1–C3) is the most common source of head and facial pain, how restoring movement—not just reducing inflammation—can calm pain signals, and why focusing only on imaging, injections, or alignment often leads to short-term or incomplete results.

Dr. Taves also breaks down how shoulder dysfunction can pull the neck back into tension, triggering recurring headaches and migraines, even after initial relief. This episode walks through the clinical reasoning behind addressing the neck first for pain reduction, then the shoulders for lasting results—so you can move away from constant flare-ups and dependence on medication.

If you’re tired of chasing symptoms and want a clearer path forward, this episode provides a framework for understanding what’s really driving your headaches and migraines.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode, Dr. Jono Taves breaks down the most common headache and migraine relief tools people buy for home use—especially around the holidays. From ice caps and nerve stimulation devices to neck massagers, traction units, and specialty pillows, he explains how each category works, what kind of relief it can realistically provide, and where its limitations lie.

Dr. Taves organizes these tools into clear categories, helping listeners understand which devices temporarily reduce pain signals, which relax muscles, and which may actually support better neck function. He also shares his professional recommendations based on treating thousands of headache and migraine patients, emphasizing an important takeaway: while many tools can be helpful, most do not address the root cause of recurring headaches.

This episode is designed to help you spend your money wisely, set realistic expectations, and understand how at-home tools fit into a bigger, long-term solution for headaches and migraines.

Novera: Headache Center

Many people with migraines are told their symptoms are purely neurological and must be managed long-term with medication. In this episode, Dr. Taves explains why that model often leaves patients trapped in a cycle of trial-and-error prescriptions without clear answers. He shares the clinical pattern that changed his entire perspective: again and again, patients formally diagnosed with migraines experienced real improvement when restrictions in the upper cervical spine were identified and treated through specialized physical therapy.

Dr. Taves breaks down how the upper neck (from the base of the skull through about C3) can refer pain into the head and face and create symptoms that look exactly like classic migraine. He explains why standard imaging and routine medical exams frequently miss these issues — because they don’t test true upper-cervical function or motion.

You’ll learn why migraines often “start in the neck,” how to think about root cause versus symptom management, and why restoring normal joint movement in the upper cervical spine can be a reliable, medication-free path toward lasting relief for many headache and migraine sufferers.

Novera: Headache Center

If you’ve been dealing with headaches or migraines and still haven’t started treatment, you’re not alone — and there are clear reasons why. In this episode, Dr. Taves breaks down 7 of the most common barriers that keep people stuck, like waiting for the next medication to work, feeling like it’s “not a good time,” trying to pinpoint triggers first, or being told it’s not a neck issue.

He explains why symptom-management thinking delays real recovery, how migraines quietly steal your time and energy, and why taking action sooner often makes the path forward simpler. You’ll leave with a clearer view of what’s holding you back — and how to move toward lasting relief with confidence.

Novera: Headache Center

In this powerful episode, Dr. Taves sits down with award-winning film composer Grant Fonda, who spent more than 20 years living with daily headaches, severe fatigue, numbness, and symptoms so alarming they led to emergency hospital visits and a diagnosis of “complex migraines.” Providers offered medications, expensive lifelong drugs, and limited answers — but no solutions.

Grant shares the turning point that brought him to Novera: Headache Center, the surprising root cause behind his symptoms, and how targeted neck-focused treatment dramatically improved his sleep, pain, headaches, brain fog, and overall health — leaving him feeling the best he has in decades.

This conversation is filled with hope, clarity, and a reminder that life-changing relief is possible, even after years of suffering.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode, Dr. Taves and Dr. Sarah Thomas explore how GLP-1 weight loss drugs—such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro—may influence headaches and migraines. They break down how these medications work in the body, how blood sugar stability impacts migraine symptoms, and why some people notice improvement while others experience worsening headaches.

They also discuss an important but often overlooked consideration: even if GLP-1 medications help with weight loss or migraine symptoms, there may be other factors to think about before relying on them long-term. From side effects to the difference between symptom management and addressing the root cause, this episode helps listeners understand the full picture so they can make informed decisions.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves dives into the surprising connection between tinnitus (ear ringing) and the neck. Many people are told their tinnitus is purely an ear problem — but for some, the root cause is actually mechanical and related to the upper cervical spine—the neck.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify if your tinnitus changes when you move your neck or jaw
• The difference between ear-based tinnitus and somatic tinnitus
• Why muscle tension, joint stiffness, or previous whiplash injuries can influence ear ringing
• How posture and neck mobility affect the nerves that connect to the ear
• Simple steps you can take to reduce ringing naturally

If your tinnitus seems to come and go — or changes when you move — this episode will help you understand why and what you can do about it.

Learn more or schedule a free discovery visit:

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves explores how issues with the jaw and airway can contribute to headaches and migraines. He breaks down how restricted breathing, muscle tension, and misalignment in the jaw and neck can impact the entire headache system — and why these problems often go undiagnosed.

Listeners will learn how airway obstruction and jaw tension can affect oxygen flow, stress responses, and nerve sensitivity, all of which may increase headache frequency and intensity. Dr. Taves also shares practical insights on how to identify if jaw or airway dysfunction could be at the root of your headaches and what can be done to address it.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your jaw pain or nighttime breathing issues could be linked to your migraines, this episode is a must-listen.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves breaks down why heat can trigger headaches and migraines — whether it’s from exercising on a hot day, sitting in the sun, or just raising your body temperature.

He explains how increased intracranial pressure, blood flow changes, dehydration, and stress on the neck and shoulders can combine to push your system past its threshold. You’ll learn:

 🌡️ Why heat and exercise often trigger migraines
 💧 How hydration and electrolytes really factor in
 💪 The surprising connection between the neck, jaw, and shoulders and heat sensitivity
 🧘 Practical tips for reducing risk — from warm-up strategies to movement habits that build tolerance

The key message: your headaches aren’t random — and avoiding heat isn’t the only answer. Once you address the underlying neck problem, your body can handle more without pain.

Novera: Headache Center

In this episode of The Headache Doctor Podcast, Dr. Taves takes listeners on a fascinating journey through history — exploring how habits like toothbrushing and hand washing became universal health practices, and why head and neck movement should be viewed the same way.

Using examples from dental hygiene and early medicine, Dr. Taves explains how simple, overlooked solutions — like brushing your teeth or washing your hands — transformed public health. He draws a powerful parallel to headaches and migraines, showing that regular movement and neck care could be the next major shift in preventive health.

Listeners will learn why our modern, sedentary lifestyles are creating “neck cavities,” and how small, consistent movement habits can prevent chronic pain, much like daily brushing prevents tooth decay.

Dr. Taves challenges us to rethink our approach to health: what if the key to long-term headache and migraine relief isn’t a new medication, but a new daily habit?

Novera: Headache Center