Today, I’m taking a closer look at the importance of understanding inflammation in modern chiropractic care. Join me as I explore how inflammation affects cognitive health, drawing on insights I’ve gained from experts like Dan Murphy and JP Errico. I’ll unravel the complex interplay between the vagus nerve and the body's inflammatory response, emphasizing the significance of vagal tone in achieving physiological balance.

In this episode:

The Informed Chiropractor Super Conference — Toronto, Dec 6: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/toronto

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

To book an appointment with Dr. Don MacDonald in Edmonton, Alberta, visit 

https://www.edmontonchirosouthside.com/ 

Dr. Peter Amlinger, a seasoned chiropractor with 40 years of experience, is alongside Dr. Don in this episode. We examine the evolution of chiropractic practice, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and adaptability in communication with patients. Dr. Amlinger shares his journey from reductionistic to creationistic care, and highlights the significance of being genuine. We explore the role of resilience and community in personal and professional growth, and Dr. Amlinger gives us the details about his upcoming appearance at the Pure and Powerful chiropractic conference.

In this episode:

Pure and Powerful — Mississauga, Nov 1: https://pureandpowerful.com

The Informed Chiropractor Super Conference — Toronto, Dec 6: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/toronto

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

Dr. Don sits down with Dr. Kelly Holt, the president of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, to explore his transformative journey in chiropractic education during the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk about into the innovative integration of wearables and data-driven approaches in chiropractic care, enhancing patient outcomes and community impact. Additionally, we highlight the inspiring story of a chiropractic outreach program in Rarotonga and discuss the upcoming lyceum event in Calgary, focusing on research and innovation in the field.

In this episode:

The Informed Chiropractor Super Conference — Toronto, Dec 6: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/toronto

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

After a short summer hiatus, Dr. Don MacDonald returns with a nervous-system-forward reset for the season. We unpack how to balance predictability without stagnation, why co-regulation is your real growth engine, and how to prune distractions so your adjusting gets more focused, consistent, and effective.

What you’ll learn

Why “boring consistency” (predictable, regulated presence) builds trust and retention

How polyvagal theory explains connection vs. “going through the motions”

A fall reset playbook: from unstructured summer to clear routines

Pruning non-essentials to free up focus and volume

Training a new grad/locum while preserving flow, priorities, and connection

Practical co-regulation cues you can use table-side—no scripts

Chapters

0:00 -1:00  Welcome back & why we pause in summer

1:11 -1:20 Predictability vs. stagnation (polyvagal lens)

2:30 -3:50 Seasonal reset: routines, families, and stressors

7:49 - 8:00 Pruning distractions to sharpen adjusting

8:40 - 9:10 Training the new chiropractor & maintaining connection

10:54 - 11:50 September game plan + what’s coming next including "Healing the Chiropractor"

Upcoming on the podcast

Dr. Kelly Holt (New Zealand College of Chiropractic): research & AI in chiropractic

Dr. Peter Amlinger: philosophy + nervous-system-forward practice (Toronto Super Conference)

Links & resources

The Informed Chiropractor Super Conference — Toronto, Dec 6:

Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist:

Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):

If this helped, share it with one chiropractor and follow/subscribe for weekly nervous-system-forward insights.

In this solo episode, Dr. Don MacDonald talks about the powerful connections between chiropractic care, the nervous system, and the polyvagal theory. He shares insights from his recent events, including Level Two of the MacDonald Safety Corridor protocol. He explains how his approach continues to evolve through feedback from chiropractors in both North America and Australia.

Dr. Don explains that when babies are born, they cannot self-regulate. They rely on safe, consistent co-regulators, typically a parent, to help develop the part of the nervous system responsible for calmness, connection, and resilience. If someone never had this kind of safety growing up, they may struggle to regulate their nervous system as adults. Interesting right? Chiropractors can unknowingly become the first "safe human" a person encounters, and that has huge implications.

From this lens, he introduces the “Safety Sandwich,” a practical application of polyvagal theory in chiropractic. It’s not a technique on its own, but a way to enhance any technique by placing it inside a regulated, neurologically safe experience. The sandwich begins before the adjustment with tone, environment, posture, and presence, and ends after the thrust, with a calming decompression or breath-based close.

If you are curious about how the polyvagal theory directly supports and elevates chiropractic work, you can now access a free one-hour intro course on the homepage at theinformedchiropractor.com.

This episode is a powerful reminder that the body doesn’t just respond to what you do, it responds to how you do it. Go watch the video yourself. You will never look at adjusting the same way again.

Audio Timestamp

1:12 - 2:59: Introduction to the Podcast Episode

2:59 - 8:18: The Safety Sandwich and Polyvagal Theory

8:18 - 12:54: Advanced Techniques and Feedback from Chiropractors

12:54 - 14:36: Upcoming Events and Resources

14:36 - 19:10: Co-Regulation and Self-Regulation in Chiropractic Care

19:10 - 21:35: Safety vs. Comfort Zone

21:35 - 23:49: Final Thoughts and Encouragement

You can connect with us on other platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor

#ChiropracticCare #NervousSystemHealing #ChiropracticSuccess #PolyvagalTheory #Chiropractor #Chiropractors #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MindBodyConnection #Medicine #ChiropracticSuccess #ChiropracticCare #PracticeGrowth #ChiropracticMentorship #Pediatricchiropractor #burnout #early intervention. #Viral #Trending #Healthtalks #Healthpodcasts #Health #Healthinterviews #Trends

In this heartfelt and energizing episode of The Informed Chiropractor podcast, Dr. Don Macdonald reconnects with Kyla Butz, a former student intern in his practice and now a rising chiropractic leader preparing to graduate from Palmer College. What starts as a nostalgic catch-up quickly becomes a deep dive into the reality of chiropractic school today, the shift away from vitalism, and the importance of building community, skill, and purpose before stepping into practice.

Kyla shares what it’s really like inside the walls of Palmer, how she went from having zero chiropractic background to falling in love with the philosophy, and why she believes seminars, clubs, and mentorship are the secret weapons of chiropractic success.

We discussed:

Whether you are a student chiropractor, a seasoned doc, or someone wondering what the future of this profession looks like, this episode will fill your tank.

Kyla’s story and experience proves that the next generation of chiropractors isn’t just ready... they are rising with heart, hands, and a vision that goes far beyond the spine.

Audio Timestamp

1:31 - 5:40:  Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

10:26 - 14:22: Navigating Chiropractic School and Philosophy

14:22 - 18:30: Kairos Training Culture (KTC) and Personal Growth

20:32 -22:51: Challenges and Opportunities in Chiropractic Education

22:51 - 23:05: Preparing for Practice and Future Goals

23:05 - 24:33: The Impact of Chiropractic Education on Personal Development

24:33 - 26:22: Experiences from Level One Seminar

28:41 - 30:08: Winning a Scholarship from CNAC

30:08 - 32:08: Importance of Mentorship and Community

32:08 - 35:28: Final Words of Wisdom

You can connect with us on other platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor

#ChiropracticCare #NervousSystemHealing #ChiropracticSuccess #PolyvagalTheory #Chiropractor #Chiropractors #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MindBodyConnection #Medicine #ChiropracticSuccess #ChiropracticCare #PracticeGrowth #ChiropracticMentorship #Pediatricchiropractor #burnout #early intervention. #Viral #Trending #Healthtalks #Healthpodcasts #Health #Healthinterviews #Babycare

Are you a chiropractor trying to grow your practice but feel overwhelmed by marketing options? In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor, we diversified a little to help practice members, as we talked about modern strategies that actually bring new patients through your doors.

Joined by chiropractic marketing expert Billy Sticker, we explore how short-form video content, office tour videos, and simple FAQ-style reels can build trust and reduce the fear that keeps people from booking their first visit. We also connect this approach to the polyvagal theory, showing how creating a sense of neurological safety can make or break that first impression.

If you have ever asked, “How do I get more chiropractic patients through social media?” or “How do I use AI without losing my mind (or license)?” this episode is for you. With the world evolving, so must our practice too. Whether you are brand new to video or just need a better strategy, this conversation will inspire you to take the first step.

You can connect with us on other platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor

In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor Podcast—the go-to chiropractic podcast for neurologically focused chiropractors—we sit down with Dr. Erina Olsen to explore her journey from a curious 11-year-old in New Zealand to becoming a powerful voice for functional neurology in Ireland. After discovering the power of manual therapy, Dr. Olsen shifted her focus from osteopathy to chiropractic, graduating in the second class of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic. She shares the intense experience of helping the college gain accreditation and how those early challenges shaped her mission.

What started as a temporary locum opportunity turned into 20 years of practice ownership in a country where chiropractic is still unregulated. Dr. Olsen reveals how Polyvagal Theory in chiropractic helped her reframe care through the lens of nervous system regulation, transforming skeptical patients into believers using chiropractic adjusting techniques rooted in safety and connection. This episode dives into what it means to practice neurologically focused chiropractic in a disconnected world, why self-care is critical for chiropractors, and how mentorship plays a key role in long-term impact.

Whether deep into chiropractic mentorship or starting to integrate the nervous system into your adjusting protocols, this conversation is full of gems for functional neurology–minded chiropractors ready to lead the next evolution of care.

Timestamp

You can connect with us on other platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor

Dr. Don MacDonald hosts Dr. Kate Finlayson on this episode of  The Informed Chiropractor podcast, where she discusses her journey in chiropractic care with a focus on pediatric practice. Dr. Kate shares how she transitioned from nursing to chiropractic after discovering the profession through YouTube videos and osteopathic treatments. She graduated from Macquarie University in Sydney and began working in Gladstone, Queensland, a coastal town she describes as ideal for her love of nature and smaller communities.

Starting her career during COVID-19 posed challenges, including border closures, but she adapted quickly. Mentored by Ally, a seasoned pediatric chiropractor, Dr. Kate embraced pediatric care, noting how adjusting infants leads to faster, life-changing results compared to adults. She completed a pediatric diploma to deepen her expertise, emphasizing early intervention’s role in shaping health trajectories.

When Ally moved back to Perth, Dr. Kate took over the practice, managing a surge in patients and expanding services to a nearby town. The workload initially led to burnout, but attending a polyvagal theory seminar helped her recognize stress patterns and prioritize self-care through Pilates, dog walks, and breathwork. She also incorporates principles from the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol, like co-regulation and visceral techniques, into her adjustments to enhance patient outcomes.

Timestamp

You can connect with us on other platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor

#ChiropracticCare #NervousSystemHealing #ChiropracticSuccess #PolyvagalTheory #Chiropractor #Chiropractors #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MindBodyConnection #Medicine #ChiropracticSuccess #ChiropracticCare #PracticeGrowth #ChiropracticMentorship #Pediatricchiropractor #burnout #early intervention. #Viral #Trending #Healthtalks #Healthpodcasts #Health #Healthinterviews #Babycare

On today’s episode of the Informed Chiropractor podcast hosted by Dr. Don Macdonald, Dr. Emir Lervy, a chiropractor from Northern Ireland, shares her journey from growing up in a family deeply rooted in holistic health to establishing her practice in 2008. Inspired by her mother’s recovery from sciatica and her brother’s improved sleep through chiropractic care, she pursued studies at the Welsh Institute of Chiropractic. Initially trained in a mechanistic approach, she transitioned to a vitalistic philosophy after rediscovering foundational texts like the “Green Books” and attending seminars emphasizing nervous system resilience. Her practice now blends human care with animal chiropractic, where she adjusts dogs and horses, observing their instinctive post-adjustment responses like yawning and relaxation.

Dr. Emir’s work extends beyond her clinic through community initiatives, such as monthly visits to a local school to adjust teachers. She integrates polyvagal theory to help patients recognize stress signals such as tense shoulders, irritability and teaches techniques like diaphragmatic breathing to build resilience. Emphasizing the importance of presence, she balances clinical work with outdoor activities and mindfulness, advocating for small, daily practices to counteract being overwhelmed. For new chiropractors, she advises confidence, trusting one’s skills, and avoiding perfectionism, urging practitioners to prioritize patient connection over rigid protocols.

Timestamp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor

#ChiropracticCare #NervousSystemHealing #ChiropracticSuccess #PolyvagalTheory #Chiropractor #Chiropractors #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MindBodyConnection #Medicine #ChiropracticSuccess #ChiropracticCare #PracticeGrowth #ChiropracticMentorship #PolyvagalTheory #ChiropracticPodcast #ChiropracticBusiness #ChiropracticLife #Trends