The Society - The Official Podcast of the CSW

Understanding Iron: The Most Toxic Metal Essential for Life

Explore the paradox of iron's vital role and its hidden dangers.

Iron is a fundamental element for life, crucial for carrying oxygen in our bodies. Yet, it also holds the title of being one of the most toxic metals. In this episode, Dr. Wade Anunson dives deep into the complexities surrounding iron, especially its regulation in our bodies.

The Dual Nature of Iron

Dr. Anunson shares a fascinating insight:

"How can something be so vital for survival and yet be one of the most toxic metals on the planet?"

This paradox is at the heart of today’s discussion. Iron rusts when exposed to air, and the same oxidation process can wreak havoc in our bodies when iron levels are not properly managed.

The Importance of Regulation

The conversation shifts to the often-overlooked aspect of iron regulation. Dr. Anunson explains how reactive oxidative species (ROS), which are essentially byproducts of iron metabolism, lead to inflammation.

"When iron is out of balance, it creates oxidative rust and breakdown, leading to dirty exhaust in the system."

This highlights the need for proper testing beyond just blood levels, which can be misleading.

A Historical Perspective

Dr. Anunson references a study from 1923 at the University of Wisconsin, revealing that cattle with low copper levels in their feed were actually suffering from iron overload. This relationship between copper and iron is critical, yet modern medicine still relies on outdated testing methods.

Anemia and Misdiagnosis

The discussion also touches on the frequent misdiagnosis of anemia. Many patients are prescribed iron supplements without adequate testing, leading to potential health risks. As Dr. Anunson states, "Some patients automatically get thrown on iron supplements, which can be carcinogenic."

Final Thoughts

This episode sheds light on the complexities of iron in our bodies and the need for a more nuanced understanding of its role. As Dr. Anunson puts it, the iron paradox is not just a medical curiosity but a pressing health concern.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to properly manage iron levels and the implications for overall health, be sure to listen to the full episode.

Shockwave Therapy, Chiropractic & the Future of the Chiropractic Assistant's Role

Shockwave therapy is rapidly becoming a valuable tool in chiropractic offices—but where does it fit, how does it work, and who should be trained to deliver it?

In this episode of The Society, Dr. Zach McCabe sits down with Dr. Dan Ruitenbeek of Shockwave Centers of America for a wide-ranging conversation about extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), its role alongside the chiropractic adjustment, and the growing opportunity to better train and empower chiropractic assistants and technicians.

Dr. Ruitenbeek shares his unique journey from injured hockey player to chiropractor and ultimately one of the profession’s leading educators in shockwave therapy. Together, Zach and Dan break down the differences between radial and focused shockwave technologies, discuss patient selection and contraindications, explore how shockwave can help clinicians address difficult extremity cases and treatment plateaus, and examine where this technology fits within a chiropractic model of care.

They also discuss an important development for Wisconsin chiropractors: the new certification pathway allowing properly trained CAs and CTs to provide shockwave therapy under a chiropractor’s supervision. Dan explains why credentialing support staff isn't simply about compliance—it can expand their role in patient care, create greater career opportunities for CAs, and allow practices to integrate advanced therapeutic technology more effectively.

Plus, get a preview of Dan’s upcoming Shockwave Certification training at the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin Fall Experience, including what CAs and CTs can expect to learn about shockwave technology, patient safety, treatment parameters, care-plan management, and clinical application.

Whether you already have a shockwave device in your practice, are considering adding one, or simply want to understand where this technology may fit within chiropractic care, this conversation provides a practical introduction to both the science and implementation of shockwave therapy.

In this episode:
• What shockwave therapy actually does
• Radial vs. focused shockwave technology
• Where shockwave fits alongside chiropractic care
• Using shockwave for extremities, spinal cases, and treatment plateaus
• Patient selection and contraindications
• Training and certification of chiropractic assistants and technicians
• The new Wisconsin requirements for CA/CT shockwave certification
• Building a stronger clinical role for the chiropractic assistant
• What attendees can expect at the CSW Fall Experience

Guest: Dr. Dan Ruitenbeek, Shockwave Centers of America
Host: Dr. Zach McCabe
Podcast: The Society — The Official Podcast of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin

You spent decades building your practice. What happens when it’s time to leave it?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Tim Wakefield, founder of Ethos Business Academy, we tackle one of the most important—and often overlooked—topics in chiropractic: retirement, succession, and exit strategy.

Too many chiropractors approach retirement assuming they’ll simply find a buyer when the time comes—or, if they can’t, close the doors. Dr. Wakefield explains why that approach can leave significant value on the table and why a successful transition should begin years before your final day in practice.

We discuss why chiropractors should begin planning their exit 3–5 years in advance—or even earlier, and how that time can be used to strengthen systems, improve compliance, optimize financial performance, develop leadership, increase practice value, and identify potential buyers.

We also explore:

• Why retirement is about more than being financially ready
• The loss of identity many doctors experience when they leave practice
• Why a practice you think is “unsellable” may have more value than you realize
• New buyer opportunities beyond simply selling to another chiropractor
• Why closing the doors may actually be your most expensive option
• How succession planning can increase practice value
• The importance of CPAs, attorneys, valuation experts, and retirement advisors
• Preserving your patients, staff, culture, and professional legacy
• What life after chiropractic practice can look like

Dr. Wakefield also shares his own experience selling a chiropractic practice and transitioning into retirement—and why that experience helped shape his work through Ethos Business Academy.

Whether retirement is three years away or ten, the message from this episode is simple:

Don’t wait until you’re ready to retire to start planning your retirement.

🎙️ The Society — the official podcast of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin.

Hosted by Dr. Zach McCabe.

My guest today has a story that begins long beforechiropractic school—and, in many ways, explains why he has spent his career trying to better understand the human nervous system.

Dr. Michael Longyear is a chiropractor, board-certifiedchiropractic neurologist, educator and clinician whose interest in neurology is deeply personal.

As a sophomore in high school, Michael suffered a traumaticfootball injury that left him paralyzed. He was told he would never walk again.Rather than accepting that prognosis, he immersed himself in his rehabilitation—and about a month later, walked out of the hospital.

But recovery didn't answer all of his questions. In fact, it created more of them.

That search eventually led him to Parker University, where he graduated valedictorian, and then into extensive postgraduate study inclinical neuroscience and functional neurology. His career later took him to Life University's NeuroLIFE Institute, where he worked with complex neurological cases, participated in research involving concussion and depression, and helped develop and teach clinical neuroscience programs for doctors around the world.

Today, Dr. Longyear leads the Brain Optimization Institute in Jacksonville, Florida, where his work centers on the relationship between the brain, nervous system, neuroplasticity and human function.

And this October, he's coming to Wisconsin.

Dr. Longyear will be one of our keynote speakers at theChiropractic Society of Wisconsin's Fall Experience, presenting four hours on “Neurological Implications of the Subluxation and the Chiropractic Adjustment.”

In part two of a three part series with Dr. Tim Wakefield of Ethos Business Academy, we talk specifically about options for chiropractors as they contemplate retirement or selling their practice. Whether you're a young doc looking to buy, have a solid business you're ready to sell, or considering life after practice, this episode is packed with great content that will help you write the next chapter of your story! Enjoy!

I sat down with Tim Wakefield DC and discussed his newest venture, Ethos Business Academy (EBA). If you're a student ready to graduate, a new doc, or you're 30 years in, this episode will get you thinking about positioning yourself for success in the future. Enjoy the episode!

On today's episode we sit down with David Michel of Petty Michel and Associates, the practice development firm helping chiropractors since 1988. Our topic is 'Why the Solo Practice is Dead', but as always we discuss so much more. From practice opportunities to marketing to insurance and everyting in between, this conversation will keep you listening!

Dr. Wade Anunson from the CSW sits down with Dr. Pierre Kory to discuss our upcoming event, his books, the Covid 19 response, and ways we can reclaim our soil and our health.

Dr. Waters has dedicated his career to identifying and addressing root causes of chronic illness through advanced diagnostics, nutritional strategies, and targeted therapies designed to reduce toxic burden and restore physiological balance. His work emphasizes a foundational principle that resonates deeply with chiropractic philosophy: the body is designed to heal—when interference is removed and the proper conditions are restored.

Our conversation explores one of the most debated and clinically relevant topics in modern health: heavy metal accumulation. We dive into the mechanisms of toxicity, the role of metals like aluminum in the body, and the clinical application of chelation therapy as a tool for reducing systemic load and supporting patient outcomes.

This discussion sets the stage for Dr. Waters’ upcoming presentation at VaxCon 2.0, hosted by the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, taking place April 24–25, 2026, in Wisconsin Dells. This event brings together leading voices in clinical practice, research, and medical freedom to examine some of the most pressing questions in healthcare today.

Dr. Waters’ featured lecture—“Aluminum: History, Uses, and Health Considerations”—will explore the widespread presence of aluminum in modern life, including its role as a vaccine adjuvant, and examine the potential biological implications through a clinical and historical lens.

Dr. Zach McCabe sits down with Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder of the National Vaccine Information Center, to discuss informed consent, vaccine policy, public trust, COVID-era mandates, and her upcoming appearance at VaxCon 2.0 in Wisconsin.