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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="/rss.xsl"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><title>Taking Charge of Headache™</title><description><![CDATA[Taking Charge of Headache™ is an educational video and podcast series from Operation Brainstorm, a National Headache Foundation program dedicated to empowering veterans and their communities. The series explores the realities of living with headache and migraine through authentic veteran stories, expert interviews, and practical strategies for navigating care, treatment, and the VA system. Each episode connects science with lived experience, offering resources, understanding, and hope for those managing headache, migraine, and other intersections of identity.

Taking charge of headache starts with believing you’re worth the care—and you are.]]></description><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/</link><language>en-us</language><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:02:28 +0000</pubDate><lastBuildDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:37:11 +0000</lastBuildDate><generator>Resonate Recordings https://resonaterecordings.com</generator><atom:link href="https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/taking-charge-of-headache" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><atom:link href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" rel="hub"/><itunes:author>Operation Brainstorm™</itunes:author><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Taking Charge of Headache™ is an educational video and podcast series from Operation Brainstorm, a National Headache Foundation program dedicated to empowering veterans and their communities. The series explores the realities of living with headache and migraine through authentic veteran stories, expert interviews, and practical strategies for navigating care, treatment, and the VA system. Each episode connects science with lived experience, offering resources, understanding, and hope for those managing headache, migraine, and other intersections of identity.

Taking charge of headache starts with believing you’re worth the care—and you are.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:complete>No</itunes:complete><image><url>https://prod-podcast-media-public.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/migrations/com-resonaterecordings-public/cover-art/t3cs55cWLhcmYjld7yWEvcHzhGgeDtLYNQ25zPSZ.png</url><title>Taking Charge of Headache™</title><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/</link></image><itunes:image href="https://prod-podcast-media-public.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/migrations/com-resonaterecordings-public/cover-art/t3cs55cWLhcmYjld7yWEvcHzhGgeDtLYNQ25zPSZ.png"/><itunes:owner><itunes:name>National Headache Foundation</itunes:name><itunes:email>Zfigliuolo@headaches.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:category text="Education"/><podcast:locked>yes</podcast:locked><podcast:guid>019e6fcc-914e-73bb-af3c-cac42527b5b7</podcast:guid><item><title>Migraine and Military Spouses</title><itunes:title>Migraine and Military Spouses</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[What does it look like to manage migraine while raising a family, supporting a military household, and navigating the uncertainty that comes with military life? In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, Trinity shares her experience living with migraine while balancing parenting, caregiving, and the unique challenges of military family life. Taking Charge of Headache is a podcast from Operation Brainstorm™, an initiative of the National Headache Foundation and Shero Coffee Club supporting veterans, military families, and caregivers living with migraine and headache disorders. Learn more at: https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/]]></description><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/#episode-019eadf2-e59e-71c1-83d7-7e4fcbc07308</link><pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:02:28 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">019eadf2-e59e-71c1-83d7-7e4fcbc07308</guid><enclosure url="https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/media/taking-charge-of-headache/019eadf2-e59e-71c1-83d7-7e4fcbc07308/019eadf3-f380-7085-86b3-646c688bbe31/audio-tcoh-military-spousesmp3.mp3" length="34940526" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode><itunes:summary><![CDATA[What does it look like to manage migraine while raising a family, supporting a military household, and navigating the uncertainty that comes with military life? In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, Trinity shares her experience living with migraine while balancing parenting, caregiving, and the unique challenges of military family life. Taking Charge of Headache is a podcast from Operation Brainstorm™, an initiative of the National Headache Foundation and Shero Coffee Club supporting veterans, military families, and caregivers living with migraine and headache disorders. Learn more at: https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1432</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD, Chronic Pain, and Migraine in Veterans</title><itunes:title>Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD, Chronic Pain, and Migraine in Veterans</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[Please note that this episode contains discussions of PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma. Some listeners may find this content sensitive or triggering. We encourage you to listen at your own pace and prioritize your wellbeing.

In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, hosts Melissa Farmer-Hill and Katy Oakley are joined by headache specialist Duren Michael Ready, MD, for an important conversation about the connection between military sexual trauma (MST), PTSD, chronic pain, and migraine in veterans.]]></description><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/#episode-019e9912-d934-7191-ad11-0864f375df26</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">019e9912-d934-7191-ad11-0864f375df26</guid><enclosure url="https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/media/taking-charge-of-headache/019e9912-d934-7191-ad11-0864f375df26/019e9913-062e-7078-b637-33a14c07ed18/full-audio-mstmp3.mp3" length="33660217" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Please note that this episode contains discussions of PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma. Some listeners may find this content sensitive or triggering. We encourage you to listen at your own pace and prioritize your wellbeing.

In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, hosts Melissa Farmer-Hill and Katy Oakley are joined by headache specialist Duren Michael Ready, MD, for an important conversation about the connection between military sexual trauma (MST), PTSD, chronic pain, and migraine in veterans.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1402</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Drug-Free Migraine Treatment Options Through the VA ft. Taisha Bates &amp; Dr. Karen Williams</title><itunes:title>Drug-Free Migraine Treatment Options Through the VA ft. Taisha Bates &amp; Dr. Karen Williams</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, hosts Melissa Farmer Hill and Diego Colon sit down with Dr. Karen Williams and Army veteran Taisha Bates to explore alternative and non-medication treatments for headache and migraine, with a focus on veteran care through the VA. Dr. Williams explains the science behind integrative and Whole Health approaches, including biofeedback, massage therapy, traditional acupuncture, and Battlefield Acupuncture, and how these treatments may support people living with migraine alongside traditional care. Taisha Bates shares her personal journey navigating migraine as a veteran, including how she discovered that acupuncture for migraine was covered through her VA benefits and how it became an important part of her management plan. This episode highlights drug-free migraine treatment options, self-advocacy within VA healthcare, and practical strategies veterans can discuss with their providers.]]></description><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/#episode-7b226f5d-23b1-4b12-ad4a-443221febc8c</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">7b226f5d-23b1-4b12-ad4a-443221febc8c</guid><enclosure url="https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/media/taking-charge-of-headache/019e7007-a0bd-72e7-aaea-4c6db587bdd0/019e706f-fbfb-7340-b5f5-6a3b71a49e32/nhf-draft-2-episode-5-01mp3.mp3" length="51456002" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, hosts Melissa Farmer Hill and Diego Colon sit down with Dr. Karen Williams and Army veteran Taisha Bates to explore alternative and non-medication treatments for headache and migraine, with a focus on veteran care through the VA. Dr. Williams explains the science behind integrative and Whole Health approaches, including biofeedback, massage therapy, traditional acupuncture, and Battlefield Acupuncture, and how these treatments may support people living with migraine alongside traditional care. Taisha Bates shares her personal journey navigating migraine as a veteran, including how she discovered that acupuncture for migraine was covered through her VA benefits and how it became an important part of her management plan. This episode highlights drug-free migraine treatment options, self-advocacy within VA healthcare, and practical strategies veterans can discuss with their providers.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2131</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Drug-Free Migraine Treatment Options Through the VA ft. Taisha Bates &amp; Dr. Karen Williams</title><itunes:title>Drug-Free Migraine Treatment Options Through the VA ft. Taisha Bates &amp; Dr. Karen Williams</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, hosts Melissa Farmer Hill and Diego Colon sit down with Dr. Karen Williams and Army veteran Taisha Bates to explore alternative and non-medication treatments for headache and migraine, with a focus on veteran care through the VA.

Dr. Williams explains the science behind integrative and Whole Health approaches, including biofeedback, massage therapy, traditional acupuncture, and Battlefield Acupuncture, and how these treatments may support people living with migraine alongside traditional care.

Taisha Bates shares her personal journey navigating migraine as a veteran, including how she discovered that acupuncture for migraine was covered through her VA benefits and how it became an important part of her management plan.

This episode highlights drug-free migraine treatment options, self-advocacy within VA healthcare, and practical strategies veterans can discuss with their providers.]]></description><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/#episode-653a194e-f5fc-4ef1-9bea-5b3fbafe4daf</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">653a194e-f5fc-4ef1-9bea-5b3fbafe4daf</guid><enclosure url="https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/media/taking-charge-of-headache/019e7007-7ddd-73d8-bd04-1081fc0d7e5c/019e706f-8fe4-7367-b3f7-a8228270505e/audio-final-rumored-migraine-remedies-1mp3.mp3" length="36196022" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, hosts Melissa Farmer Hill and Diego Colon sit down with Dr. Karen Williams and Army veteran Taisha Bates to explore alternative and non-medication treatments for headache and migraine, with a focus on veteran care through the VA.

Dr. Williams explains the science behind integrative and Whole Health approaches, including biofeedback, massage therapy, traditional acupuncture, and Battlefield Acupuncture, and how these treatments may support people living with migraine alongside traditional care.

Taisha Bates shares her personal journey navigating migraine as a veteran, including how she discovered that acupuncture for migraine was covered through her VA benefits and how it became an important part of her management plan.

This episode highlights drug-free migraine treatment options, self-advocacy within VA healthcare, and practical strategies veterans can discuss with their providers.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1494</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Alternative Migraine Treatments for Veterans</title><itunes:title>Alternative Migraine Treatments for Veterans</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[Hosts Melissa Farmer-Hill and Diego Colón are joined by: Veteran Taisha Bates, who shares her personal migraine journey, the impact on her career and family, and the holistic tools that help her cope. And Dr. Karen Williams, headache specialist and contributor to the VA/DoD Headache Guidelines, who explains the science behind non-drug migraine treatments and how veterans can access them through the VA.]]></description><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/#episode-019e9910-e1b1-7076-8e59-4bdf6414d7c0</link><pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">019e9910-e1b1-7076-8e59-4bdf6414d7c0</guid><enclosure url="https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/media/taking-charge-of-headache/019e9910-e1b1-7076-8e59-4bdf6414d7c0/019e9911-03af-73b0-b655-39eaeffec835/audio-alternative-treatmentsmp3.mp3" length="51456002" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Hosts Melissa Farmer-Hill and Diego Colón are joined by: Veteran Taisha Bates, who shares her personal migraine journey, the impact on her career and family, and the holistic tools that help her cope. And Dr. Karen Williams, headache specialist and contributor to the VA/DoD Headache Guidelines, who explains the science behind non-drug migraine treatments and how veterans can access them through the VA.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>2131</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Navigating the VA ft. Jane Babcock</title><itunes:title>Navigating the VA ft. Jane Babcock</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[Filing a VA disability claim for migraine or headache can feel confusing and frustrating—but you don’t have to figure it out alone.

In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, Army Veteran Melissa Farmer Hill and National Headache Foundation’s Diego Colón talk with Veterans Benefits Educator and Retired Sergeant First Class Jane Babcock about how veterans can successfully navigate the VA system to get the disability rating and care they deserve.

Jane, a veteran living with migraine herself, breaks down the key steps and insider advice every veteran should know:

✅ How to file a VA claim for migraine and headache disorders
✅ Understanding presumptive and secondary conditions and what qualifies
✅ What evidence helps—nexus letters, buddy statements, and symptom logs
✅ Avoiding claim sharks and finding accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs)
✅ What to do if your VA migraine claim was denied or rated 0%
✅ How the appeal process works and when to request a review

If you’re a veteran struggling to prove your service-connected migraine, or you’re not sure how to get your headache attacks recognized by the VA, this episode will walk you through every step of the process—with encouragement and clarity from people who’ve been there.]]></description><link>https://www.operationbrainstorm.org/taking-charge-of-headache/#episode-7d1121c8-144e-449d-9a58-8932412b66ba</link><pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">7d1121c8-144e-449d-9a58-8932412b66ba</guid><enclosure url="https://feeds.resonaterecordings.com/media/taking-charge-of-headache/019e7007-570d-72ae-be96-a8142e2a5b42/019e706e-799f-718e-820d-6f57dbe7cb70/episode-4-full-audio-v2mp3.mp3" length="26958871" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Filing a VA disability claim for migraine or headache can feel confusing and frustrating—but you don’t have to figure it out alone.

In this episode of Taking Charge of Headache™, Army Veteran Melissa Farmer Hill and National Headache Foundation’s Diego Colón talk with Veterans Benefits Educator and Retired Sergeant First Class Jane Babcock about how veterans can successfully navigate the VA system to get the disability rating and care they deserve.

Jane, a veteran living with migraine herself, breaks down the key steps and insider advice every veteran should know:

✅ How to file a VA claim for migraine and headache disorders
✅ Understanding presumptive and secondary conditions and what qualifies
✅ What evidence helps—nexus letters, buddy statements, and symptom logs
✅ Avoiding claim sharks and finding accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs)
✅ What to do if your VA migraine claim was denied or rated 0%
✅ How the appeal process works and when to request a review

If you’re a veteran struggling to prove your service-connected migraine, or you’re not sure how to get your headache attacks recognized by the VA, this episode will walk you through every step of the process—with encouragement and clarity from people who’ve been there.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>1685</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>