The Informed Chiropractor Podcast

By Dr. Don MacDonaldAlternative Health Health & Fitness

The Informed Chiropractor Podcast episodes

October 26Why Patients Leave Care and the Conversation That Keeps Them: Communication in Chiropractic with Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald
Why do practice members leave care, and what can you do before it's too late? In this episode, Brandi MacDonald is back on the show for the first time in a long while, and we talk about the early signs that someone is drifting off-trend, and the conversations that keep them in care.
Retention isn't a strategy. It's a lag indicator. What you control are the lead indicators: noticing health trends and behavioural trends early, and having the honest conversation while it still matters.
In this episode:
Why "retention strategy" is the wrong goal, and lead vs. lag indicators
Trend lines: catching someone drifting toward the ditch before they hit it
Why results come first: adjusting through a polyvagal lens with the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol
Health trending: what to do when something happens that nobody pre-framed
Brandi's three lenses (chiropractic, salutogenic and polyvagal) and moving people from "the one thing" to the whole thing
Behavioural trends: the missed second visit, the "I don't know my schedule next week" moment, and comments at the front desk
Why your chiropractic assistants are your "connector detector"
Amiable chiropractors and conflict: "It's not conflict, it's just the truth"
Topping up the rapport bank, and practising these conversations like an athlete
Scripting and table talk vs. incidental learning
Brandi on storytelling, depth and meaning in practice
Read the article: Why Patients Leave Chiropractic Care (and How to Notice Early)
We'll go much deeper on all of this, with role-play and our actual first-visit, report-of-findings, re-evaluation and front-desk systems, at The Gathering: The Communication Extravaganza in Toronto on Saturday, December 5, 2026. Doctors, chiropractic assistants, spouses and students are welcome: https://theinformedchiropractor.com/toronto
Also mentioned: our book, The Polyvagal Shift, coming in January; Healing the Chiropractor in Phoenix in January; the Communication Extravaganza on the Gold Coast in February; and something in the UK we'll keep you posted on.
This is clinical experience, not medical advice.
Free "Intro to the Polyvagal Lens" for Chiropractors: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
Join the Informed Chiropractor Collective: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor
Connect with The Informed Chiropractor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theInformedChiropractor
If this episode was helpful, follow The Informed Chiropractor Podcast and share it with another chiropractor (or CA) who would benefit from the conversation.
41 min
October 12 The Communication Extravaganza Returns: Toronto, December 5th
Your practice members don't leave because your adjusting isn't good enough. They leave because of the little things nobody noticed.
In this episode, Dr. Don MacDonald talks about trend lines: the health trend lines and behavior trend lines that tell you when a practice member is drifting off course. Catch it early and a simple conversation repairs it. Miss it and those micro ruptures accumulate until someone ghosts you.
You'll hear why rupture and repair is the hidden engine of every strong practice relationship, what the "rapport bank" is and why a full one gives you leeway when things get bumpy, why your chiropractic assistants should be your best noticers, and how incidental learnings teach better than any script.
This is a preview of what Don and Brandi will be teaching at the Communication Extravaganza in Toronto on December 5, 2026. Bring your team. Details at https://theinformedchiropractor.com/toronto
Also mentioned: the Communication Extravaganza on the Gold Coast February 27, 2027, the pelvic floor protocol seminar in Perth February 20, 2027, and Don and Brandi's book The Polyvagal Shift, coming January 2027.
Free "Intro to the Polyvagal Lens" for Chiropractors:
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
17 min
September 03Pelvic Floor Chiropractic, Tailbone dysfunction and Nervous-System Regulation with Dr. Lauren Rose
What happens when chiropractors look beyond the spine and begin paying closer attention to the pelvis, pelvic floor, fascia and nervous system?
In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor Podcast, Dr. Don MacDonald sits down with Dr. Lauren Rose, a chiropractor from Okotoks, Alberta, to talk about her journey into chiropractic and how learning a nervous-system-focused approach to the pelvis and pelvic floor has changed the way she works with her practice members.
Dr. Lauren shares how her interest in chiropractic began after discovering the philosophy of chiropractic while studying kinesiology, eventually leading her to the New Zealand College of Chiropractic. After returning to Canada and beginning practice in 2020, she developed her clinical experience while working as an associate and learning from experienced chiropractors.
The conversation then turns toward one of the areas that has become increasingly important in her practice: pelvic floor chiropractic care.
After attending Dr. Don's pelvic floor seminar in Calgary, Dr. Lauren began applying the approach with patients experiencing a variety of pelvic, hip, fascial and tailbone-related challenges. She explains why she was initially hesitant to add another technique to her practice and what surprised her about the way the pelvic floor approach could fit within a chiropractic framework.
Dr. Lauren and Dr. Don also discuss the relationship between the pelvic floor, fascia, movement and the nervous system, and why the goal is not simply to add more techniques, but to understand how the body responds to the input being provided.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Lauren shares several clinical experiences involving tailbone discomfort, pelvic floor challenges, sciatica, hip function and changes in movement following pelvic floor work. These stories highlight how much there is still to learn when chiropractors become curious about the relationships between different regions of the body.
The episode also returns repeatedly to an important theme of Polyvagal Theory and nervous-system regulation: the state of the practitioner matters too. Dr. Don and Dr. Lauren discuss the importance of co-regulation and why chiropractors should pay attention to their own state before entering the adjusting room.
In this episode:
Dr. Lauren Rose's journey from kinesiology into chiropractic
How the New Zealand College of Chiropractic influenced her approach to practice
Why mentorship and the right practice environment can shape a chiropractor's career
How Dr. Lauren became interested in pelvic floor chiropractic care
Why tailbone and pelvic floor challenges encouraged her to expand her clinical approach
How pelvic floor work can be integrated through a chiropractic lens
The relationship between the pelvis, fascia, movement and nervous-system regulation
Why some patients may respond differently depending on the condition of their tissues and their ability to adapt
Clinical experiences involving tailbone discomfort and pelvic floor-related challenges
How Dr. Lauren describes using pelvic floor work with male patients experiencing tailbone challenges
What Dr. Lauren learned from attending Dr. Don's pelvic floor seminar in Calgary
Why listening to the patient's body can be more valuable than simply explaining symptoms
The importance of co-regulation in chiropractic practice
Why a chiropractor's own nervous-system state can influence the clinical environment
How Dr. Lauren approaches self-care, exercise and maintaining a positive state before practice
Why continuing education can change the way chiropractors see their patients
Key Takeaway
One of the biggest themes from this conversation is that chiropractic care continues to evolve as practitioners become more curious about how the spine, pelvis, fascia, and nervous system interact.
For Dr. Lauren, learning more about the pelvic floor did not mean abandoning the chiropractic approach she already valued. Instead, it gave her another way to understand the people sitting in front of her and another way to work with patients experiencing challenges she previously found difficult to address.
The conversation is also a reminder that clinical growth does not always come from adding more complexity. Sometimes it comes from learning to listen more carefully, observe more closely and understand the body from a different perspective.
Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Lauren Rose's experience applying pelvic floor chiropractic concepts in practice and her perspective on nervous-system regulation, clinical curiosity and the ongoing evolution of chiropractic care.

📖 Related Article
https://drdonmacdonald.com/pelvic-floor-chiropractic-pelvis-fascia-nervous-system/
Learn More
Interested in learning more about the nervous-system-focused approach discussed in this episode?
Explore the free Intro to the Polyvagal Lens for Chiropractors from The Informed Chiropractor.
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist:
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor
28 min
August 06 Women’s Health, Pelvic Floor Care and Practice Growth with Dr. Liz Walker
What does it take to build a practice through community, find the right associate, and grow into women's health and pelvic floor care?
In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor Podcast, I talk with Dr. Liz Walker, who grew up in Australia, played four years of college tennis at the University of Montana (where she also met her husband), studied at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, and then came back to open her own practice in Missoula, Montana. She shares why she skipped PT school, how she built her new-patient base through community instead of paid ads, and why the hobbies and people you have fun with help ground you and grow your practice.
We get into how a women's health focus grew on its own (pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause), what she'd do differently with associates (clear expectations, a runway, benchmarks, and why "none is better than someone who's not a complete fit"), and why she bought a building when her lease ended, moving from 700 to about 2,000 square feet with massage, sauna and cold plunge.
Dr. Liz also shares what she noticed after our Unlocking the Pelvis and Pelvic Floor seminar in Calgary, how easy it was to add to her adjusting, and why she now focuses on regulating first instead of trying to "win the day." We finish with her advice: practice goes best when you're having the most fun.
This is clinical experience, not medical advice.
Related Article: https://drdonmacdonald.com/womens-health-pelvic-floor-chiropractic/
Learn the pelvic floor protocol hands-on: Unlocking the Pelvis and Pelvic Floor, Perth, Australia, Feb 20, 2027: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/perth-unlocking-pelvis-pelvic-floor-protocol
Free "Intro to the Polyvagal Lens" for Chiropractors: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
Join the Informed Chiropractor Collective: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor
Connect with The Informed Chiropractor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theInformedChiropractor
If this episode was helpful, follow The Informed Chiropractor Podcast and share it with another chiropractor who would benefit from the conversation.
37 min
June 30Why the Pelvic Floor May Be the Missing Link in Polyvagal Chiropractic | Dr. Don MacDonald
The Informed Chiropractor Podcast with Dr. Don MacDonald
What if one of the biggest missing pieces in chiropractic isn't another adjustment technique—but an area of the body most of us were never taught how to assess?
In this episode, I share one of the biggest clinical breakthroughs we've had over the past year: integrating pelvic floor work into the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol through a polyvagal lens.
What started as one practice member with a prolapse and an ovarian tumor opened the door to an entirely new understanding of how the pelvic floor influences nervous system regulation, posture, movement, hip function, breathing, and overall health. Since then, we've taught this protocol to chiropractors around the world and the feedback has been incredible.
I also shift gears in the second half of the episode to discuss the three biggest challenges we're seeing while coaching chiropractors internationally—and why success today has less to do with learning another strategy and more to do with knowing where to focus.
If you've ever felt like there's a gap in your clinical toolbox—or your practice feels busy but unfocused—this episode is for you.
In This Episode, You'll Learn
Why has the pelvic floor become such an important part of our clinical work
How the pelvic floor influences nervous system regulation through a polyvagal perspective
The relationship between fascia, mechanoreceptors, posture and movement
Why chronic hip, low back, and rib problems often have an overlooked pelvic floor component
Clinical stories showing changes in prolapse symptoms, bladder urgency and hip function
Why restoring movement—not simply strengthening—is often the missing piece
The importance of informed consent and creating safety when working with sensitive areas
The three biggest obstacles chiropractors are facing today
Why too many strategies are creating overwhelm instead of growth
How identifying your current "season" of practice changes everything
Why understanding your natural Working Genius can reduce burnout and improve practice satisfaction
A preview of our upcoming UNMastermind experience in Lisbon
Key Takeaways
One of the biggest lessons we've learned is that regulation isn't just about adjusting the spine.
The nervous system constantly gathers information from every part of the body. When tissues lose movement, the brain loses quality information. By restoring ease and movement—especially through the pelvic floor—we often see improvements that extend far beyond the pelvis itself.
We also believe chiropractors don't need more information.
Most need more clarity.
Knowing what season you're in, focusing on the few things that matter most, and working within your natural strengths creates far more momentum than chasing every new strategy that appears online.

📖 Related Article
https://drdonmacdonald.com/pelvic-floor-and-polyvagal-chiropractic/
Resources
MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol
Polyvagal Theory for Chiropractors
Nervous System Regulation
Vagus Nerve and Chiropractic Care
Pelvic Floor and Polyvagal Chiropractic
Learn more at: drdonmacdonald.com

Join us in Calgary or Toronto by visiting our website https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/
Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor
Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
We just made the top 10 Podcasts on Polyvagal theory. Check it out, we are number 2
https://www.millionpodcasts.com/polyvagal-therapy-podcasts
35 min
May 14Polyvagal Chiropractic: The 5 Pillars That Change Patient Outcomes
Today I’m sharing everything I’ve learned over the last few months, including 5 crucial pillars for changing patient outcomes. I’ve been attending seminars and speaking across more than 52 time zones, while keeping busy with the process of handing off the practice over the next nine months to our young Docs. From recent podcast guests to speaking events in Australia, Windsor, and Calgary, here are the top takeaways on chiropractic care I’ve been reflecting on.
In this episode:
What we’ve been up to since the last episode aired.
What made the previous episode with Heidi Haavik so great?
The importance of using objective measurements in chiropractic care.
What I spoke about in Australia recently and why it matters.
Why the time frame of chiropractic care makes a significant difference in outcomes.
How movement acts as a summer switch, and why we need optimal movement.
How mapping and helping a body identify its position in space are so critical.
The way our nervous systems are wired to be in a protective state.
How supporting a state of ease in the global system actually changes lives.
What is the goal of initial chiropractic care for dysregulated people?
What the “window of tolerance” is and how you can increase it.
Where we went in Australia and what made it an especially exciting visit.
How the Calgary event brought chiropractors together in a positive and impactful way.
Why opening more chiropractic schools is so important, especially now.
What we have planned for the summer, including ways you can get involved.
📖 Related Article
https://drdonmacdonald.com/polyvagal-chiropractic-the-5-pillars-that-change-patient-outcomes/

Join us in Calgary or Toronto by visiting our website https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/

Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor

Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens

We just made the top 10 Podcasts on Polyvagal theory. Check it out, we are number 2
https://www.millionpodcasts.com/polyvagal-therapy-podcasts
42 min
March 05Chiropractic Brain Research with Dr. Heidi Haavik: Polyvagal Theory & Nervous System Insights
Dr. Heidi Haavik is back on the podcast for the second time in today’s episode. With a PhD in neurophysiology, Dr. Haavik is one of the most renowned researchers in chiropractic and is also the Founder of Haavik Research. During the episode, she discusses the latest research in chiropractic (including the most cutting-edge studies), how the research is catching up with the long-appreciated benefits of chiropractic care, and why it’s such an incredible time to be in this industry.
In this episode:
How chiropractic care changes the brain through nervous system safety.
What is now being measured in real time and how it impacts the patient experience.
How touch supports the body in learning to be in a regulatory state.
What your team can do to support patients so they feel seen and heard.
What the recent research is saying about chiropractic and the immune system.
Why it’s such an exciting time to be a chiropractor right now.
How our bodies protect us from overwhelming stress (and how chiropractic helps).
How an adjustment can impact the salience network depending on your state.
Why some chiropractors might refuse to embrace this model of care.
The ways Dr. Haavik’s perspective on chiropractic has changed over time.
The limiting beliefs prevalent in the industry and how they’re shifting now.
How the positive outcomes of an adjustment are being strengthened through research.
The difference that regular, long-term chiropractic care can make (versus intermittent).
The cutting edge research bio-engineers are doing right now related to muscle testing.
Ideal changes that could be made to the way patient records are handled today.

📖 Related Article
https://drdonmacdonald.com/chiropractic-brain-research-with-dr-heidi-haavik-polyvagal-theory-nervous-system-insights/

Donate to the NZCC Research Centre to support the actual research being done: https://chiropractic.ac.nz/research/support-our-research

Heidi’s upcoming online masterclass on the latest chiro-neuro-immune connection (will be recorded in case you cannot make the live session): https://heidihaavik.com/masterclass

Heidi’s online resource libraries (both for chiropractors who want to learn the science, and for your patients/practice members): https://chiroshub.com

Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor

Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
1 hr
February 05Building the Next Generation of Chiropractors in Australia: Inside the Australian Chiropractic College with Dr. Patrick Sim
In this episode our guest is The CEO and President of the Australian Chiropractic College (ACC), Dr. Patrick Sim. There’s so much more to chiropractic than the practice: there’s also philosophy, politics, and core values. In this episode, Dr. Sim gives his unique view of the chiropractic industry through the lens of his knowledge and experiences in these specific areas. He also lets us in on what to expect at the upcoming Concordia 2026 event in Australia.
In this episode:
How the philosophy of chiropractic care resonated with and influenced Dr. Sim early on.
What inspired him to get into the political side of chiropractic practice and why it matters.
How the political side of chiropractic impacts chiropractors (whether they acknowledge it or not).
What it really takes to reach your next level and to experience growth in business and life.
Why having an association to protect the public is important in this industry.
The uniquely broad view Dr. Sim has of the chiropractic industry and what it allows him to see.
What happened when he realized he did something wrong with regard to the values of chiropractic care.
The people who joined on the academic journey with Dr. Sim immediately.
The milestones they’ve met at their school thus far (in just a few short years).
How many students they take in every year and the significance of it.

📖 Related Article
https://drdonmacdonald.com/australian-chiropractic-college-podcast-dr-patrick-sim/

Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor

Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens

Register for Concordia 2026: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/concordia-2026-you-havent-come-this-far-to-only-come-this-far-tickets-1318294627719

Australian Chiropractic College: https://acc.sa.edu.au/
33 min
January 08How Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques Evolved: Insights from Dr. Peter Kevorkian
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Peter Kevorkian as he walks through how chiropractic technique develops over time and why analysis matters as much as force. He explains how his background shaped his early focus, what led him to study many systems, and how indicators guide decisions in real moments. He talks about nerves, biomechanics, and how different models look at the same spine. He also explores when not to adjust, how timing changes outcomes, and why connection between two people affects results.

In this episode:
Dr. Kevorkian’s head start on chiropractic through engineering, measurements, angles, and biomechanical reasoning.
What drew Dr. Kevorkian’s attention toward upper cervical work and indicator-based adjusting approaches.
How exposure to non-biomechanical methods expanded his understanding beyond structural models.
The influence of SOT and algorithm-driven indicators on clinical decision processes.
How meeting Dr. Donny Epstein reframed technique as relationship and nervous system engagement.
Why technique became viewed to Dr. Kevorkian as a best-guess application of force.
The distinction between biomechanical change priorities and neurophysiological change priorities.
How every chiropractic technique reflects a defined analytical window and force strategy.
The shift within education toward force application over analytical development.
What artistry in adjusting looks like beyond rigid protocol execution.
How experience, repetition, and body awareness shape adjusting proficiency over time.
The limits of technology and data in replacing human connection during care.
Plans for campus partnerships, relocation, and expanded educational sites.

📖 Related Article
https://drdonmacdonald.com/how-chiropractic-adjusting-techniques-evolved/

The WAVE Chiropractic Conference: https://wave.lifewest.edu

Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor

Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
43 min
December 18, 2025The Shoulder–Pelvic Floor Connection: A New Protocol for Neurologically Focused Chiropractic with Dr. Don MacDonald
I take some time in this episode to reflect on what took place in 2025 and give insight on why planning for the future often starts with knowing what to let go of. I get into why practitioner health directly impacts clinical outcomes, and how new approaches to pelvic floor and shoulder care are providing impressive results in practice. We’ll walk through real clinical observations, unexpected connections, and why regulation matters more than technique alone to set you up for success in 2026.
In this episode:
The importance of year-end reflection before setting meaningful clinical and personal targets.
Why stopping unhelpful habits creates space for growth and better professional focus.
My motivation behind creating a health-focused experience for chiropractors.
How practitioner vitality directly influences resilience, energy, and patient outcomes.
The introduction of a new pelvic floor and shoulder-focused educational protocol.
What clinical observations revealed about pelvic floor tension and organ support.
How restoring pelvic floor elasticity influences bladder function and prolapse patterns.
A trampoline analogy to explain force distribution and muscular efficiency in the pelvis.
Why pelvic alignment affects low back pain, nerve irritation, and adjustment retention.
How sacral and pelvic nerve pathways relate to leg symptoms and sensory changes.
The connection between pelvic musculature, adductors, and medial knee stress.
The role of fascial systems in shoulder imbalance and chronic protective tension.
Why post-adjustment soft tissue input enhances regulation and neurological safety.

📖 Related Article
https://drdonmacdonald.com/pelvic-floor-chiropractic/

Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor

Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
19 min

About The Informed Chiropractor Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The Informed Chiropractor, the go-to podcast for neurologically based chiropractors who are ready to make chiropractic relevant again. Hosted by Dr. Don MacDonald, a 29-year chiropractor,…