The Informed Chiropractor Podcast

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 takeaway...

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 w...

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 upcomi...

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 tim...

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 regulat...

Dr. Brian McAulay, President of Life University, is with us today to explore his inspiring journey of becoming a transformative leader in chiropractic education. We hear about his career evolution, highlighting his tenure at Parker University. Dr. McAulay shares his vision for the future, emphasizing the need for collaborative innovation to reduce educational costs and promote chiropractic as a unified career path.

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Today, Dr. Don MacDonald explores one of the most talked-about topics in modern health and neuroscience: the vagus nerve and its role in nervous system regulation.

Drawing on insights shared at the CNAC Conference in Toronto, Dr. Don explains why chiropractors are uniquely positioned to help patients better understand the connection between the brain, body, stress, healing, and adaptabilit...

In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor Podcast, Dr. Don MacDonald is joined by Dr. Kelly-Jane McLaughlin, a chiropractor from Carlisle, England, whose work focuses on pregnancy chiropractic care, pediatric chiropractic, family wellness, and practitioner development.

Dr. Kelly shares her unique journey into chiropractic, her experiences working with professional rugby teams, and the lessons she has learned ...

From Inflammation to Regulation: How Chiropractic Engages the Vagus Nerve

In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor Podcast, Dr. Don MacDonald explores the growing connection between inflammation, the vagus nerve, nervous system regulation, and chiropractic care.

Drawing on insights from researchers and educators including Dr. Dan Murphy and JP Errico, this discussion examines how chron...

Dr. Peter Amlinger joins Dr. Don MacDonald for a powerful conversation about chiropractic communication, adaptability, authenticity, and the evolution of modern chiropractic practice.

With more than 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Amlinger shares how his perspective has evolved from a reductionistic model of care toward a more human-centered approach focused on growth, resilience, and...

Dr. Kelly Holt, President of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, joins Dr. Don MacDonald to discuss the future of chiropractic education, research, and innovation. Together, they explore how the profession is evolving through evidence-based practice, artificial intelligence, wearable technology, and practice-based data collection.

Dr. Holt shares how the college navigated the challeng...

After a short summer break, Dr. Don MacDonald returns with a practical, nervous-system-informed reset for chiropractors heading into a new season of practice.

In this solo episode, Dr. Don explores why predictability often matters more than motivation, how Polyvagal Theory can help chiropractors create stronger patient connections, and why reducing distractions may be one of the fastest wa...

In this episode, Dr. Don MacDonald explores one of the most important concepts in modern chiropractic care: creating safety before, during, and after an adjustment.

Drawing from Polyvagal Theory, the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol, and years of clinical experience, Dr. Don explains why patient outcomes are influenced by far more than technique alone. He introduces the concept of the Safety Sandwich—a practical framework t...

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, a...

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 t...

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 c...

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,...

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 Chirop...

In this interview with Dr. Ryan Seaman, hosted by Dr. Don Macdonald, he shared his journey from practicing a pain-based model to achieving significant growth in transitioning to a subluxation-based model in Loxton, South Australia. Dr. Ryan purchased a retiring chiropractor’s practice. However, the clinic’s symptom-centered model clashed with his philosophy.

He recalls feeling physically ill during patient consultatio...