In this episode of the Fieldnotes podcast, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Dr. Debi Silber, founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation Institute, about the profound and often misunderstood impact of betrayal on physical, emotional, and psychological health. Dr. Silber shares her personal experience with family and marital betrayal that led her to conduct doctoral research on the topic, resulting in the identification of Post-Betrayal Syndrome and a five-stage healing process. She emphasizes that betrayal doesn’t resolve with time alone and presents shocking statistics on how it manifests in the body. The conversation highlights the importance of moving beyond survival mode, establishing boundaries, and embracing forgiveness at the right stage of healing. Her initiative, National Forgiveness Day, also underscores the power of intentional, guided emotional recovery.

Timestamps: (01:23) Time doesn’t heal betrayal wounds. (02:13) Betrayal breaks spoken, unspoken rules. (05:24) Personal power loss affects healing. (13:02) Healing has five predictable stages. (33:19) Forgiveness accelerates when timed right.

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Key Takeaways: Betrayal impacts mind, body, and spirit. Time alone doesn’t heal betrayal trauma. Healing follows five defined transformation stages. Survival mode can block true recovery. Forgiveness works—but only when ready.

In this powerful "Podcast Rewind" episode of Field Notes Podcast, Dr. Elena Villanueva joins Dr. Rob Downey to explore a transformative approach to healing that blends functional medicine, quantum science, and emotional wellness. Dr. V discusses how chronic conditions like diabetes, fatigue, and mental health struggles often stem from unresolved trauma, stress, and neurological imbalances—not just physical factors. Through case studies, personal experiences, and cutting-edge insights, she shares how deep healing becomes possible when we address the mind, body, and spirit together. The episode offers both inspiration and actionable wisdom for anyone ready to go beyond the pill and reclaim their vitality.

Timestamps: (02:35) Doctors lack root cause training  (10:53) Neurological rewiring unlocks healing power  (14:59) Stress triggered diabetes and hypertension  (19:19) Rapid shifts: mind, body, spirit  (38:58) Inner child work deepens self-love

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Key Takeaways: True healing requires root cause awareness  Quantum science enhances traditional medicine  Emotional stress causes physical illness  Inner child work restores self-worth Functional medicine can reverse chronic conditions

In this episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with nurse and holistic health expert Esther Yunkin to explore Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism. Esther shares her journey from working in the ER to embracing a functional medicine and holistic approach, emphasizing the importance of looking at the body, mind, and spirit as a whole. They discuss the root causes of thyroid dysfunction, common misdiagnoses, lab testing strategies, and practical lifestyle adjustments to manage stress and autoimmunity. Esther provides actionable advice for patients to take agency in their health and simplify complex care plans, highlighting her own holistic practices and self-paced program.

Timestamps: 00:02 – Introduction to Esther Yunkin 06:51 – Importance of thyroid lab testing 10:03 – Ask why thyroid labs abnormal 21:36 – Stress and autoimmunity interplay 37:08 – Low vitamin D triggers discussed

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Key Takeaways:  Root causes key to thyroid health Labs empower patient health decisions Stress fuels autoimmunity, complicates thyroid Simplicity aids sustainable lifestyle changes Vitamin D often overlooked trigger

In this powerful episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Aimie Apigian to explore the cutting-edge science behind trauma and how it's stored in the body—not as a memory of events, but as an internal biology of overwhelm. Dr. Aimie shares personal stories and clinical insights about how unresolved trauma shapes chronic illness, anxiety, and depression, while offering hope through somatic healing and nervous system repair. We discuss her upcoming book, The Biology of Trauma, why movement is essential, how early life stress imprints us, and what it truly takes to reset our systems and reclaim vitality. Whether you're a practitioner, patient, or simply curious, this conversation redefines what healing can look like.

Timestamps: 04:03 Trauma = internal overwhelm, not event 09:40 Chronic illness linked to stored overwhelm 13:16 Movement clears adrenaline, resets safety 18:35 Early stress leaves lasting imprint 36:48 Somatic work resolves stored panic

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Key Takeaways: Trauma lives in biology, not memory Overwhelm leads to chronic health issues Movement discharges stress hormones effectively Early experiences shape lifelong stress patterns Healing starts with your nervous system

In this episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey interviews environmental health coach Jenny Johnson, who shares her personal and professional journey into the world of environmental toxicity, particularly mold exposure and Lyme disease. Jenny recounts how her family's move to an organic farm for a healthier lifestyle ironically led to severe illness due to hidden environmental biotoxins. Drawing from her recovery experience and advanced training under experts like Dr. Shoemaker and Dr. Bredesen, Jenny now empowers others with practical tools, testing strategies, and coaching to uncover the root causes of chronic illness. She highlights how chronic inflammation, often driven by environmental triggers, is frequently misdiagnosed, and stresses the importance of personalized healing plans and nervous system regulation in true recovery.

Timestamps: (03:41) Family hit hard by mold exposure (05:05) Son’s neurodivergence reversed post-detox (15:00) Mold is more than mold (21:28) Chronic inflammation mimics many diseases (43:02) DIY mold tests empower families

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Key Takeaways: Mold exposure often hides in plain sight Chronic illness can stem from environment Testing empowers informed health decisions Nervous system health drives recovery Personalized plans beat one-size-fits-all fixes

In this episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Dana and Colleen, co-founders of The Digital Dojo, about trauma, healing, and personal transformation. They explore how trauma—both acute and subtle—can be stored in the body and inherited across generations. Through a unique fusion of traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts principles, and performance coaching, they share practical frameworks like NAP (“repeat after me” method) to help individuals safely engage with and heal from trauma. The conversation also covers distinctions between self-worth and self-esteem, and how finding one’s “why” can drive meaningful change.

Timestamps: (00:47) Trauma blocks wellness and healing efforts. (03:10) Talking unlocks hidden trauma patterns. (06:34) Trauma = unmet resources in moment. (08:15) Inherited trauma via ancestral chi. (17:12) NAP technique prevents emotional flooding.

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Key Takeaways: Trauma can be multigenerational and subtle. Healing requires emotional safety, not force. NAP helps process trauma gently. Self-worth matters more than esteem. Purpose fuels commitment to healing

In this episode of the Fieldnotes podcast, Dr. Downey interviews integrative psychiatrist Dr. Michael Broukhim, who shares his transformative journey from personal loss to pioneering holistic mental health care. Motivated by the death of his father and a mystical hospital experience, Dr. Broukhim embraced energy healing, osteopathic medicine, and integrative psychiatry. He now helps patients safely taper off psychiatric medications by addressing root causes through lifestyle changes, trauma work, and community connection. The conversation critiques modern psychiatry's overreliance on meds and highlights the healing power of presence, emotional safety, and spiritual practices.

Timestaps: (02:43) Father’s hidden cancer shapes purpose (06:09) Turn to integrative psychiatry begins (10:02) Critiques rushed, med-focused psychiatry (22:14) Steps for safe med tapering (33:13) Practical healing tools: nature, touch

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Key Takeaways: Healing requires presence, not prescriptions. Psychiatry overlooks root emotional issues. Safe tapering needs lifestyle support. Spirituality can drive real transformation. Connection and curiosity heal deepest wounds.

In this episode of the Fieldnotes podcast, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Dr. Colin Zhu—a family and lifestyle medicine physician, chef, and health coach—about the powerful role food plays in shaping personal well-being, community connection, and planetary sustainability. Drawing from his upbringing under a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and his diverse medical background, Dr. Zhu explains how disconnection from our food sources has widespread health and ecological consequences. He emphasizes that food is more than nourishment—it's a love language, a tool for healing, and a reflection of our relationship with ourselves and the planet. Together, they discuss how mindfulness, meaningful relationships, and small daily choices can catalyze major transformations in individual and collective health.

Timestamps: (00:55) Food connects us across all levels (04:30) Food is emotional and political (07:04) DOs embrace holistic mind-body healing (10:32) Livestock drives rainforest destruction (17:23) Relationships predict health and longevity

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Key Takeaways: Food is love, culture, and identity. Disconnection from food harms health. Lifestyle medicine treats root causes. Small habits create lasting change. Wellness thrives through collective action.

In this episode of the Seaworthy Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey interviews women's health coach Saoirse Nash about her personal journey with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and the broader systemic issues surrounding women's healthcare. Saoirse shares how recurring UTIs in her youth were normalized and dismissed, leading to years of inadequate treatment until she took control of her health through holistic and functional approaches. The discussion explores the intersection of anatomy, immune and gut health, poor diagnostic tools, and the role of chronic stress and environmental toxins in women’s health. Together, they emphasize the importance of patient empowerment, lifestyle changes, and the need for better research and advocacy—highlighting organizations like Live UTI Free that offer critical support and information.

Timestamps: (00:00) UTIs common, especially in women (01:51) Saoirse’s health journey begins with UTIs (06:25) Gut health linked to immune defense (08:13) Standard UTI tests often fail (30:35) Trust your body and instincts ____________________________________________________________________________

Key Takeaways: Chronic UTIs are often misdiagnosed and undertreated. Gut health is vital for immune defense. Stress and trauma impact physical health deeply. Women’s symptoms are too often normalized. Trust your body—advocate for better care.

In this episode of the "Fieldnotes" podcast, Dr. Rob Downey interviews Courtney Cowie, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and certified coach, about her personal and professional journey through chronic gut health issues, including IBS, IBD, mold toxicity, and Lyme disease. Courtney shares her powerful origin story—from childhood stomach aches and years of ineffective conventional treatments to her transformative experience with Chinese medicine in Japan and her eventual embrace of functional medicine. Together, they explore the critical role of functional testing, the gut-brain connection, and the importance of root-cause approaches in healing chronic digestive conditions. Courtney also highlights how personalized testing, diet, and trauma-informed care can empower patients to regain their health and vitality. Timestamps: 00:48) Courtney discusses her IBS diagnosis (05:00) Bathroom stops planned during runs (06:11) Herbalist urges eating meat (14:31) Microscopic colitis finally diagnosed (17:17) Mold toxicity and Lyme uncovered ____________________________________________________________________________

Key Takeaways: Chronic gut issues often start in childhood. Conventional medicine may overlook root causes. Functional testing reveals hidden gut dysfunction. Mold and Lyme can mimic IBS symptoms. Diet, stress, and trauma impact digestion deeply.