

The POTScast
Standing Up to POTS, Inc.
Learn about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and more by joining us each week for a new episode. If you are living with POTS, MCAS or other chronic illnesses, you are not alone! Our goal is to raise awareness, nurture community, and empower patients with information and practical skills for living better with this chronic invisible illness.
Each month, we feature episodes with top POTS physicians as well as POTS patients. Because many POTS patients are eventually diagnosed with MCAS, the first Tuesday of every month we feature a new series called Mast Cell Matters, in which top MCAS practitioners share their experiences in better treating patients. You can learn more by listening to our groundbreaking POTScast anywhere, anytime. Visit our website at www.standinguptopots.org and follow our social media accounts @standinguptopots.
Each month, we feature episodes with top POTS physicians as well as POTS patients. Because many POTS patients are eventually diagnosed with MCAS, the first Tuesday of every month we feature a new series called Mast Cell Matters, in which top MCAS practitioners share their experiences in better treating patients. You can learn more by listening to our groundbreaking POTScast anywhere, anytime. Visit our website at www.standinguptopots.org and follow our social media accounts @standinguptopots.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 27, 2026 • 42min
Attorney Nancy Cavey on disability benefits for POTS/dysautonomia
Attorney Nancy Cavey has spent 39 years representing people with disabilities all over the U.S., and is an expert in helping people qualify based on POTS, MCAS, hEDS and other invisible illness. In this episode she describes the process, how to maximize your chances of success, common pitfalls, important deadlines and more. We will have a part 2 with Nancy's colleague in a few weeks, to address disability benefits for people under age 18. Nancy's book about disability benefits for POTS is here. Nancy's website is here.
Nancy has also written the following free e-books about:
Long-Term Disability Books
Robbed of Your Peace of Mind
The Disability Insurance Claim Survival Guide for Professionals
Social Security Disability Books
Your Rights to Social Security Disability
Medical Booklets / Pamphlets
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Booklet
Dysautonomia Pamphlet
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Jan 20, 2026 • 45min
Singer-songwriter Nellie Clay on “the hangover without the party”
Western folk singer-songwriter Nellie has recorded multiple albums and EPs, toured nationally from Alaska to Nashville, appeared on PBS’s Songs at the Center, opened for Grammy-nominated artists, and become a beloved regular at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. Most recently, she was profiled in Forbes for her life as an artist living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, bringing huge mainstream attention to POTS in the process. In this episode she shares her thoughts, experiences and wisdom on living with POTS, adjusting to major life changes, staying strong, redefining oneself and much more.
Nellie's article in Forbes is here.
Nellie's "Freedom Song" music video is here.
Nellie's music is available for purchase here.
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

17 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 1h 2min
Zac Spiritos, MD, MPH on neurogastroenterology with Dr. Tania Dempsey on Mast Cell Matters
Dr. Zac Spiritos, a dual board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in IBS and POTS, shares his journey into complex internal medicine. He reveals how pivotal patient encounters led him to effectively treat mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and discusses the importance of functional mast cell activity over static counts. Zac also dives into innovative treatment strategies using GLP-1 agonists and critiques common diagnoses like SIBO. He emphasizes empowering patients with tailored diet advice while being cautious about overly restrictive elimination diets.

Jan 4, 2026 • 53min
Vascular surgeons Robert Hacker and Deena Chihade on venous compressions, stenting, and POTS
Vascular surgeons Dr. Robert Hacker and Dr. Deena Chihade share their unusual path to POTS via looking at the venous system, and explain what they are seeing in patients before and after addressing venous compression syndromes such as May Thurner Syndrome and Nutcracker Syndrome. Dr. Hacker estimates that venous obstructions may play a role in more POTS patients than previously thought, and Dr. Chihade shares the research study she presented at the Dysautonomia International poster session. Both doctors explain how their clinic tests and treats patients for potential compressions and what the stenting procedure is like. Their website is https://stlvascular.com/.
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Dec 21, 2025 • 43min
Sarah from FL on life after COVID/POTS/MCAS
Sarah loved her life as a busy mom an accomplished professional dog groomer, but after COVID left her with new symptoms suggestive of the 'Trifecta' (POTS, MCAS, hEDS) she is needing to make a new game plan....one that doesn't involve so many hours of standing and triggering fragrances. In this episode she discusses what she went through to get a diagnosis and how -- with the help of supportive family -- she is working through the challenges to design a new lifestyle.
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Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Dec 15, 2025 • 1h 5min
Dr. Dempsey on leading edge treatments she is finding helpful
One of the most common questions we get from listeners is about the novel treatments that Dr. Dempsey mentions, such as therapeutic plasmapheresis exchange (or apheresis), SOT, ozone therapy, UV light blood irradiation and more. In this episode she discusses each treatment: What it is, how it works, the risks and benefits, who is a good candidate, and more.
More information about Dr. Tania Dempsey and her clinic can be found at https://drtaniadempsey.com/.
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Dec 9, 2025 • 52min
New (free) AI intelligence platform for patients with Dr. Jen Curtin
Dr. Jennifer Curtin is Medical Director of the RTHM clinic and former complex chronic illness patient herself, after having ME/CFS while in medical school. Now her team has created the RTHM intelligence platform which uses HIPAA-compliant artificial intelligence and other technology to provide guidance and care for people with Long COVID, ME/CFS, MCAS, POTS, hEDS and related conditions. In this episode she discusses the features, purpose, possibilities and how this free platform can help improve access to answers, insights, testing and treatment for patients with these complex conditions. if you would like to try the platform, it is free and can be found here.
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standimg Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Dec 2, 2025 • 47min
Jace on health policy, why “being a burden is a blessing”, and much more
Jace had hEDS and POTS for years before it was diagnosed and then had to wait MORE years to start getting any treatment, but in the meantime graduated college, got an advanced degree, worked on state and federal health policy, made art and much more. Hear Jace's advice and words of wisdom as someone who has expertise when it comes to ADA and accommodations.
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Nov 25, 2025 • 44min
Progress for the COVID vaccine injured with REACT19 Co-Chairman Brianne Dressen
Brianne Dressen co-founded REACT19 to help support people with life-altering COVID-19 vaccine injuries after being injured herself in one of the original clinical trials, and then learning the hard way that little was available in terms of answers, research, treatments or support. Now she oversees the science-based non-profit React19, which has created a provider network, support groups, research collaborations, lobbying efforts, and a grant program to help pay for medical bills of injured patients.
The mentioned Yale studies are:
1. Comparative Analysis of Long COVID and Post-Vaccination Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study of Clinica Symptoms and Machine Learning-Based Differentiation
2. Immunological and Immunogenic Signatures Associated with Chronic Illness after COVID 19 Vaccination (Dr. Been's presentation explaining the findings is here).
3. Post-Vaccination Syndrome: A Descriptive Analysis of Reported Symptoms and Patient Experiences after COVID-19 Vaccination
The book about Brianne is here.
Brianne's documentary film is here.
React19.org's YouTube channel with more educational videos by Dr. Been and more is here.
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.

Nov 17, 2025 • 48min
Dr. Eboni Cornish on root causes of brain inflammation with Dr. Dempsey on Mast Cell Matters
This is a not-to-be-missed conversation for anyone interested in brain inflammation. Dr. Eboni Cornish, M.D. is Associate Medical Director at Amen Clinics, Fellow and Treasurer of the Board for the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). With research training at the National Institutes of Health as a Howard Hughes Medical Fellow, she is nationally recognized for her evidence-based work in neuroinflammation, autism, chronic toxicity, and complex chronic illnesses, including autoimmune disease, Lyme, PANS/PANDAS, mold illness, CIRS, and long COVID among others. At Amen Clinics, she integrates SPECT brain imaging with advanced biomarker testing to uncover root-cause brain imbalances and has created the Amen Clinics 2-Week Neurointensive Program for complex neuroimmune disorders. A sought-after speaker and educator, Dr. Cornish is dedicated to advancing brain and body longevity while translating complex science into practical, patient-centered strategies.
In this episode she and Dr. Dempsey discuss neuroinflammation, the role of limbic system, gut imbalances, chronic infections and MCAS.
Dr. Dempsey's website is here.
If you liked this episode, we hope you will click subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. If you are so moved, donations are accepted to help to support our production costs https://www.standinguptopots.org/donate
Tell us what you think of The POTScast or send us your idea at info@standinguptopots.org!
Find out more about Standing Up to POTS! Check us out on our Website: www.standinguptopots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/standinguptopots/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standinguptopots/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/POTSActivist Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/TheStandingUpToPOTS/
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have health related issues, please contact a qualified health professional to get the personalized assessment, advice, and treatment that you need. Standing Up to POTS will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or other damages arising from the use of this podcast.


