The Gut–Heart Connection Your Doctor Missed
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
Release Date: 10/01/2025
Why Food Isn’t Enough: The Hidden Key to Healing
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
In this episode of the Fieldnotes podcast, Dr. Rob Downey interviews naturopathic doctor Sarah Love about why nutrition alone often fails to resolve modern health issues. Sarah explains that despite patients following excellent diets, chronic stress, lack of breaks, and sympathetic overdrive frequently block healing. She emphasizes the importance of intentional rest, reconnecting with nature, and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Her clinical experience led her back to herbal medicine and the creation of her own caffeine-free tea blends designed to support relaxation, gut health,...
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Hypnosis + Hormones: The Unexpected Female Reset
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
In this episode of the Fieldnotes podcast, Dr. Downey interviews Natalie Lund and opens up about her unexpected journey through perimenopause and how it forced her to rewrite long-held beliefs about her body and identity. She shares how she experienced medical gaslighting when her symptoms were dismissed, and how she found real relief through hormone therapy and the mindset-shifting technique of rapid transformational therapy (RTT). She explores how hypnosis and RTT helped her reclaim control over her life, reset her mental and physical state, and begin seeing her femininity and wellbeing in a...
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Stop Searching Outside Yourself for Healing—Your Body Already Knows The Way with Dr. Marissa Heisel
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
In this episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Dr. Marissa Heisel—a chiropractor and midwife—about the importance of trusting our body’s innate wisdom and recognizing that true healing begins from within. She shares how modern society, particularly for women, has conditioned us to depend on external authorities rather than our own intuition. Through her experiences in chiropractic, midwifery, and holistic care, Dr. Heisel emphasizes the power of self-trust, simplicity, and returning to natural grounding practices to restore vitality and sovereignty over one’s...
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How the Power of Smell Can Heal Mind and Body
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
In this episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Jodi Cohen, founder of Vibrant Blue Oils, about the transformative power of essential oils on the brain and nervous system. Cohen recounts her personal journey, showing how scent can help regulate the vagus nerve, restore parasympathetic balance, and support emotional healing. She explains the direct neurological link between smell and safety, how scent can rewire stress responses, and why essential oils like clove, lime, and rose can serve as simple yet profound tools for trauma recovery, anxiety relief, and nervous-system...
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Connect to Nature: The Simple 'Medicine' Doctors Forget
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
In this episode of the Fieldnotes podcast, Dr. Rob Downey is joined by Dr. Michael Blahut, a family practice physician with integrative training, to discuss his philosophy that the life you live is your medicine. Dr. Blahut emphasizes that lifestyle and our connection to the natural world are the most potent forms of medicine, going beyond supplements and testing. The conversation centers on restoring the body's original biological blueprint by tapping into nature's wisdom through simple practices. They explore the critical roles of natural light and the circadian rhythm in health, discussing...
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The Gut–Heart Connection Your Doctor Missed
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
In this episode, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Angie Gallagher—an exercise physiologist and integrative health coach with over 25 years of experience in cardiac rehab—about why conventional heart care is missing the mark. Angie shares how her frustration with recurring cardiac events in patients led her to explore functional medicine approaches, integrating gut health, nervous system regulation, and metabolic markers into her practice. The conversation dives into overlooked lab tests, the gut–heart axis, HeartMath for nervous system balance, and why managing stress and blood sugar may be...
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Food, Mood & The Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Melissa Mondala
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
In this powerful episode of the Fieldnotes Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Dr. Melissa Mondala to explore how food, lifestyle, and the gut-brain-immune connection can transform mental health. From her own journey overcoming IBS and acne to helping her husband manage autoimmune disease, Dr. Mondala reveals how simple, evidence-based changes can spark profound healing. She shares insights on why nutrition can be as effective as antidepressants, how sleep and exercise influence mood, and the hidden impact of substances and environmental toxins. If you’ve ever wondered how lifestyle...
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Post Betrayal Transformation with Dr. Debi Silber
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
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...
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Podcast Rewind: A New Era In Health and Healing with Dr. Elena Villanueva
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
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...
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Holistic Hashimoto’s Care: Functional Medicine Insights
Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
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...
info_outlineIn this episode, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Angie Gallagher—an exercise physiologist and integrative health coach with over 25 years of experience in cardiac rehab—about why conventional heart care is missing the mark. Angie shares how her frustration with recurring cardiac events in patients led her to explore functional medicine approaches, integrating gut health, nervous system regulation, and metabolic markers into her practice. The conversation dives into overlooked lab tests, the gut–heart axis, HeartMath for nervous system balance, and why managing stress and blood sugar may be more important than cholesterol. Angie’s holistic approach redefines what it means to truly protect the heart.
Timestamps:
01:15 – Angie’s shift from conventional care
05:40 – Key labs doctors often miss
10:20 – Gut inflammation linked to heart disease
13:30 – HeartMath improves nervous system balance
18:45 – Blood sugar more critical than cholesterol
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Key Takeaways:
Gut health directly impacts heart health
Blood sugar drives endothelial damage
HeartMath balances stress and HRV
Standard tests miss root cause markers
Nature and breathwork support heart healing