What is happening in your head when you get a Headache?

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Who Smarted?
Episode Title: What is happening in your head when you get a Headache?
Release Date: March 25, 2026

In this lively and hilarious episode, the Who Smarted? crew dives into the science, history, and surprising causes of headaches. Host Cherie B. Tey (aka "Trusty") takes a dreamy nap to escape her throbbing head and, in the process, is joined by her whimsical dream guide—a talking slice of pepperoni pizza! Together, they explore what causes headaches, the different types, why some foods can trigger them, and clever tips for coping and prevention. With humor and trivia, the episode is packed with easy-to-understand science and fun interactive moments for kids and curious listeners of all ages.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Headache Myths Busted

• Is a headache a pain in your brain?
  • Myth: Headaches are your brain hurting.
  • Fact: "Even though a headache might feel like your brain hurts, that's not actually what is happening. That's because while your brain tells you when other parts of your body hurt, your brain can't actually feel pain itself." (Pepperoni Pizza, 03:01)
  • It’s actually the nerves, blood vessels, and head/neck muscles around the brain that send pain signals.

2. Types of Headaches

• Tension (Muscle Contraction) Headaches (04:20 – 05:21)
  • Most common type, caused by muscles in the head and neck squeezing too tightly.
  • Pain is described as dull, constant, and feels like something pressing or squeezing the head.
• Migraine Headaches (05:25 – 06:45)
  • Characterized by sharp, throbbing pain.
  • Can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
  • "Approximately 20% or 2 out of every 10 people suffer from migraine headaches in the USA and around 12% or every 12 out of 100 people experience migraine headaches. World Whoa." (Pepperoni Pizza, 05:42)

3. The History of Migraines

• Migraines are not new: "Historical records show people have had migraines for at least 7,000 years." (Pepperoni Pizza, 06:19)

4. Headache Triggers: Illnesses, Emotions, Smells, Foods

• Illness: Headaches may come with colds, flu, strep throat (07:07).
• Emotional triggers: Excitement, nervousness, sadness, and stress can all contribute.
  • "Getting excited about a special event like a party or feeling nervous or worried about something like a test can cause you to feel headachy." (Cherie B. Tey, 07:34)
• Strong Smells: Perfume, smoke, fumes, new cars—anything with a strong scent may trigger headaches (08:40).
• Food Triggers:
  • Caffeine: Found in coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks (09:32).
  • Cold Foods: Ice cream headaches (or "brain freezes") happen when cold foods affect temperature-sensitive nerves in your mouth, causing blood vessels to react and induce sudden pain (10:15).
  • Nitrates in Processed Meats: Pepperoni, bacon, bologna, and hot dogs can trigger headaches in some people due to the presence of nitrates (12:48).

5. Genetics and Headaches

• "Headaches can be genetic, which means your genes determine if you'll get them or not." (Pepperoni Pizza, 13:09)
• Clarified using a pun on "genes" vs. "jeans" for comic relief.

6. How to Relieve or Prevent Headaches

• Best First Step: Rest and sleep—most headaches go away on their own.
• Other Remedies:
  • Stretching, taking a walk outside, applying a cold pack to the forehead, and drinking fluids (14:12).
  • Pain relief medication can help, but check with an adult first (14:52).
• "Most headaches will go away on their own after you've rested or slept a while." (Pepperoni Pizza, 13:50)

7. When to See a Doctor

• Headaches are rarely a sign of a serious health problem, but medical attention is advised if:
  • Headaches are frequent, severe, don’t go away, follow a head injury, or come with vision changes or tingling sensations.
  • Persistent headaches disrupt normal activities or frequently wake you up at night (15:16 – 15:53).

8. Helpful Tips

• Headache Diary: Track what you eat and activities to identify triggers (15:53).
• Decorate your diary with pizza stickers! (for fun and to spot patterns) (16:02).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• 00:50 Pepperoni Pizza: "Hi, trusty. I am so excited to be a part of your dream. Also, I think I can help you and the smarty pants learn about headaches."
• 03:01 Pepperoni Pizza: "The answer to that question is surprisingly false. Even though a headache might feel like your brain hurts, that's not actually what is happening."
• 05:42 Pepperoni Pizza: "Migraine headaches are one of the most common medical conditions... Approximately 20% or 2 out of every 10 people suffer from migraine headaches in the USA."
• 06:19 Pepperoni Pizza: "Historical records show people have had migraines for at least 7,000 years."
• 09:32 Pepperoni Pizza: "Well, for anyone who said coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks and soda, you're right. But do you know why those foods give you a headache? It's because they have something in them called caffeine..."
• 10:15 Pepperoni Pizza: "When you eat something cold like ice cream or an ice pop, it affects the temperature sensitive nerves in your head and the blood vessels along the roof of your mouth. In an effort to warm up your mouth, blood rushes to that area and causes a headache."
• 12:48 Pepperoni Pizza: "Well, you see, pepperoni, along with foods like bacon, bologna, and hot dogs, has something called nitrates in it can give some people a headache."
• 13:09 Pepperoni Pizza: "Headaches can be genetic, which means your genes determine if you'll get them or not."
• 13:50 Pepperoni Pizza: "Absolutely. And trusty, you definitely had the right idea by taking a nap. Most headaches will go away on their own after you've rested or slept a while."
• 15:53 Pepperoni Pizza: "I know some people who keep a headache diary where they write down every time they have a headache and what happened before it that might have triggered it."
• 16:08 Pepperoni Pizza: "Good idea. And again, sorry I gave you a headache."
• 16:14 Cherie B. Tey: "That's okay. Thanks for all the great information. And while it's a bummer that pepperoni gave me a headache, the good news is I'm happy with a slice of plain cheese pizza, too."

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Important Timestamps

| Time | Topic/Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Cherie sets the scene with her headache and nap | | 00:50 | Introduction of Pepperoni Pizza Dream Guide | | 03:00 | Busting the "pain in your brain" myth | | 04:20 | Types of headaches explained: tension vs migraine | | 05:42 | Migraine statistics and history | | 07:07 | Headaches and illness | | 07:34 | Emotional and environmental triggers | | 08:40 | Headaches from strong smells | | 09:32 | Caffeine and "brain freeze" causes | | 12:48 | Nitrates in foods as headache triggers | | 13:09 | Genetics and headaches | | 13:50 | How to relieve headaches | | 15:16 | When headaches warrant a doctor visit | | 15:53 | Headache diary recommendation | | 16:08 | Episode wrap-up and thanks to listeners |

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Episode Tone & Style

• Wonderfully quirky and inviting, with pepperoni pizza puns and silly dream logic.
• Playful, interactive: listeners are encouraged to answer questions and play along.
• Explains science in simple, kid-friendly language without talking down to the audience.

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Conclusion

This episode of "Who Smarted?" turns the nuisance of headaches into a fascinating learning adventure. By blending humor, catchy dialogue, and relatable examples (who hasn’t had a brain freeze?), it teaches kids about why we get headaches, what triggers them, and how to cope—all while keeping science fun and memorable. If you've ever wondered what’s happening inside your head during a headache, or just love a good slice of pizza wisdom, this one’s for you!

Transcript

[Cherie B. Tey]

And now it's time for Whosmarted. Psst. Hey, smartypants. Sorry if I'm not my usual bubbly self today. Unfortunately, my head really hurts. Has that ever happened to you? Yep, we all get headaches now and then. Anyway, you don't mind if I take a quick nap, do you? I'm thinking some rest might help my head. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves. Just try to keep it down so I can sleep. Nighty night. Ah, here I am in dreamland where I can imagine anything and anything can be imagined. And the best part is, my headache is gone. Of course I feel bad because I'm supposed to be doing an episode of who Smarted. If only there was a way to combine my dreams with making learning fun. Hey, is that a giant pizza floating towards me? Of course I dream about pizza.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Hi, trustee. I am so excited to be a part of your dream. Also, I think I can help you in the smarty pants learn about headaches.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Wait, what?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

You heard me, trusty. I am the slice of pepperoni pizza of your dreams. But I also know a lot about headaches. Don't ask me why. It's a dream.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Oh, wow. Well, in that case, I guess I can combine my nap time dream with an episode of Whosmarted. And then hopefully when I wake up, not only will my headache be gone, but we'll know a lot more about headaches. Things like, why do we get headaches, what is actually happening during a headache, and what can we do to make them go away or prevent them?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Oh yeah, I can answer those head splitting questions and more, no problem.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Great. Well, in that case, get ready for a whiff of science and history on

[Adam Tex Davis]

who's smarted, who's smarted, who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun on who's smart.

[Cherie B. Tey]

And okay, quick recap because things are getting a little weird here in the real world. I had a headache, so I decided to take a nap. And now in my dream, a talking slice of pepperoni pizza is going to help me and you learn more about headaches. And in the process, maybe we could figure out what caused my headache in the first place. Yep, this kind of thing only happens

[Adam Tex Davis]

on Too smart head.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Okay, where do we start?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, Trusty, the first thing you and the smartypants should know is when it comes to experiencing a headache, you are not alone. Lots and lots of people, both adults and kids, get headaches. And the frequency can range from not very often to all the time.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Okay. While having a headache isn't fun for me or anyone else, I guess it's nice to know that lots of other people get them too. Smarty pants, true or false? A headache is a pain in your brain.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

The answer to that question is surprisingly false. Even though a headache might feel like your brain hurts, that's not actually what is happening. That's because while your brain tells you when other parts of your body hurt, your brain can't actually feel pain itself.

[Cherie B. Tey]

So, smarty pants, if your brain isn't what hurts when you have a headache, then what really causes you to feel pain? Is it A, your nerves, blood vessels and head and neck muscles? B B your skull or C your hair? If you said A, nerves, blood vessels and head and neck muscles, nice job.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Sometimes your muscles or blood vessels swell or get bigger. They might also get tighter or change in other ways that can put pressure on surrounding nerves. The nerves send pain messages to your brain and you get a headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

But what causes this to happen?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, that depends on the type of headache you have.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Wait, there are different types of headaches, Smartypants. Did you know that? Seems some of you did. And some of you are like me.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Huh?

[Cherie B. Tey]

Whoa. That too. Sorry. Pepperoni pizza. You were saying?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

There are definitely different types of headaches, and as such, different things might trigger them or cause them to happen. The most common type of headache is a tension or muscle contraction headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Interesting, Smarty pants. Do you think this type of headache happens when your head and neck muscles are too loose, squeezing too hard or relaxed? If you said squeezing too hard, nice job. The word contract means to squeeze or tighten. So it makes sense that a muscle contraction headache comes from your head and neck muscles squeezing too tightly. What kind of pain is usually associated with a muscle contraction or tension headache?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

The pain from this type of headache is usually dull and constant. It may feel like something is pressing or squeezing the front, back or sides of your head.

[Cherie B. Tey]

That's kind of what I was feeling before I took my nap. But what other kinds of headaches are there?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Another type of headache is characterized by sharp throbbing pain.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Smarty pants, any idea that kind of headache is called? Is it A, a migraine, B a migrate or C an ingrate? The answer is A, a migraine headache.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Migraine headaches are one of the most common medical conditions. Did you know? Approximately 20% or 2 out of every 10 people suffer from migraine headaches in the USA and around 12% or every 12 out of 100 people experience migraine headaches. World Whoa.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Whoa is right that's literally millions of people.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

It sure is.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Have people always gotten headaches or are they a newer problem? What do you think, smarty pants? Yeah, I'm not sure either.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Historical records show people have had migraines for at least 7,000 years.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Ugh. Me head hurts.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Me go lay down in cave.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Yep. Migraines have unfortunately stood the test of time. And both kids and adults and men and women get migraines. And besides having a splitting headache, people suffering from migraines often feel sick to their stomachs and might even throw up.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

That's right. As well as extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Which is why people suffering from migraines often migrate to a dark, quiet room.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Well, my stomach feels fine and light isn't bothering me, so I don't think I'm having a migraine headache. So, pepperoni, what are some common causes for headaches?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, a headache might be part of another illness like a cold, the flu, or strep throat.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Okay, but other than my headache, I don't feel sick. Is it possible to have a headache when you are not sick?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Of course, there are plenty of internal or external triggers that can cause headaches. An example of an internal trigger is certain emotions inside you may cause a headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Smartypants, do you think you would get a headache when you feel A, happy, B sad, or C excited and nervous? If you said C excited or nervous, great job. Getting excited about a special event like a party or feeling nervous or worried about something like a test can cause you to feel feel headachy. But guess what? That's not the only answer we'd also accept. B, Sadness is often linked to emotional stress or depression, which can also cause a headache.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Are you feeling excited or nervous about anything? Trusty or sad, perhaps?

[Cherie B. Tey]

Definitely not sad. Of course, as the trusty narrator, I do get excited and maybe a little nervous when I have to record episodes of who Smarted I. After all, I want the show to be great, but I don't think that did it.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Then maybe you smelled something that gave you a headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Wait, smells give you headaches?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Absolutely.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Hmm. Smarty pants. What kind of smells can give you a headache? Strong smells? Good smells or bad smells?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

If you said strong smells, nice job. Strong smells like perfume, smoke, fumes, or even the smell of a new car or carpet can give you a headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Say, what about smells?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

If it's a strong enough smell, then yes, a smell could give you a headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Hmm. Could I have given myself a headache that way? I don't think so.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, since you brought up the digestive system. Now is a good time to let you and the smarty pants know that some foods can also also give people headaches.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Foods? What, smarty pants? What foods can give people headaches? Go ahead, call out some guesses. Huh? Huh? Were any of those right?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, for anyone who said coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks and soda, you're right. But do you know why those foods give you a headache? It's because they have something in them called caffeine. And caffeine can give some people headaches.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Ah, very interesting. I will say. I don't think I had anything with caffeine, so I doubt my headache came from that. Are there any other foods that can cause headaches?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Sure. You've probably had an ice cream headache, otherwise known as brain freeze.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Ah, yes. I am not a fan of the brain freeze. So why does that happen?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

When you eat something cold like ice cream or an ice pop, it affects the temperature sensitive nerves in your head and the blood vessels along the roof of your mouth. In an effort to warm up your mouth, blood rushes to that area and causes a headache. Oof.

[Cherie B. Tey]

I've been there, done that, but not today.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, did you eat any of those other foods that are known to give people headaches? There's bacon, bologna, hot dogs, and unfortunately, pepperoni.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Wait a second. I did eat some pepperoni pizza before my head started hurting. Did you give me a headache?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Um, possibly. Sorry.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Well, it's not entirely your fault. I did eat you. Sorry about that. But what I want to know is how. How did eating pepperoni pizza give me a headache? Well, we'll find out right after this quick break. And a word from our sponsors. Spring is here and if you're a homeschool family trying to finish the year strong, I want to tell you about ixl. It's the award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into your homeschool routine, covering math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. What I love most about IXL is is how it adapts to each child's pace. Whether your kid needs to reinforce foundational skills before an assessment or push ahead into new material, IXL meets them exactly where they are. With no pressure and real encouragement built right in, kids earn rewards, see their own progress, and actually feel good about learning. And for parents, the real time progress tracking is a game changer. You always know exactly where your child stands. Plus, it makes learning fun. And you know, I love that. Over 15 million students use IXL and it's proven to improve achievement in all 50 states. So make an impact on your child's learning. WhoSmarted listeners get an exclusive 20% [e-mail] smarted that's ixl.com smarted for your 20% off. Now back to WhoSmarted. Okay, before I took my nap, I had a headache. And before I had a headache, I ate some leftover pepperoni pizza. Which is surprising because I usually never have leftover pizza, but also surprising because how does pepperoni give you a headache?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, you see, pepperoni, along with foods like bacon, bologna, and hot dogs, has something called nitrates in it can give some people a headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

But why is it that some people can eat foods with nitrates or caffeine and be completely fine while others get a headache from it? Any ideas, smartypants?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Well, if you get headaches, there's a good chance someone in your family does too. Headaches can be genetic, which means your genes determine if you'll get them or not.

[Cherie B. Tey]

My genes? But I'm wearing pajama pants, not the jeans.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

You wear the jeans that are the instructions for how your body will work. Those are passed down from your family before you're born and before you ask. No, it's not the same as hand me down clothes from an older sibling.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Gotcha. Okay, now that we know some of the reasons people get headaches, including how I got mine, is there anything we can do to make headaches go away?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Absolutely. And trusty. You definitely had the right idea by taking a nap. Most headaches will go away on their own after you've rested or slept a while.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Great. But what if my head still hurts when I wake up? Can dreaming of pepperoni give me a headache too?

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

No. Although a particularly scary or stressful dream could cause you to wake up with a headache. But as far as other things you can do, you might be able to get relief from headaches by stretching or taking a walk outside. You could try placing a cold pack on your forehead. Drinking fluids can also help. And of course, pain relief medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with a headache if it doesn't go away after you sleep.

[Cherie B. Tey]

Smarty pants. If you think you need medicine for a headache, you should always check with an adult first. By the way, smarty pants, true or false, a headache is usually a sign of a more serious health problem. If you said false, good job. A headache usually is not a sign of anything more serious, so don't worry if you get one. Phew. But are there ever times when you should see a doctor about a headache

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

yes, you might want to see a doctor. If your headaches are really painful, don't go away easily or come after you've suffered a head injury. If a headache is affecting your vision or comes with tingling feelings, that's also a sign to see a doctor.

[Cherie B. Tey]

I would add, if persistent headaches prevent you from being your usual self or doing things you enjoy, happen once a month or more, or make you miss school or activities, or wake you up from sleeping, that might also be reasons to get checked out. After all, a doctor can help you figure out why you're getting headaches and find ways to keep them from happening so often.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

I know some people who keep a headache diary where they write down every time they have a headache and what happened before it that might have triggered it.

[Cherie B. Tey]

I might do that when I wake up. I'm also going to decorate today's page with pepperoni pizza stickers.

[Pepperoni Pizza (Smarty Pants)]

Good idea. And again, sorry I gave you a headache.

[Cherie B. Tey]

That's okay. Thanks for all the great information. And while it's a bummer that pepperoni gave me a headache, the good news is I'm happy with a slice of plain cheese pizza, too. But first, I'm going to enjoy this nap a little more. A big shout out to my smarty friend George in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. We hear you and your family love learning about all the crazy history and science facts, which is great because I love teaching them. Thanks for smarting with us in one of the coolest and coldest cities in Canada. This episode, Headaches was written by Sarah Sweetik and voiced by Cherie B. Tey, Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who's Smarted was created and produced by Adam texdavis and Jerry Kolber. This has been an Atomic Audio production.