Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine
Bringing you the leaders in Functional and Integrative Medicine, hosts, Dr. Rob Downey and Heather Moon explore the cutting-edge protocols and strategies to reclaim health and create a better life, from the inside out.
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Why Financial Stress Starts Deeper Than Your Bank Account with Tanner Link
06/18/2026
Why Financial Stress Starts Deeper Than Your Bank Account with Tanner Link
What if the way you manage your money isn’t all that different from the way you manage your health? In this episode of Field Notes, host Heather Moon sits down with financial planner Tanner Link for a fascinating conversation about the surprising parallels between financial wellness and functional medicine. Just like chronic health issues rarely start with symptoms alone, financial stress often stems from deeper patterns hiding beneath the surface — impulse behaviors, lack of awareness, misaligned priorities, and operating on autopilot. Together, Heather and Tanner unpack how budgeting, mindful spending, long-term habits, and small daily decisions compound over time, proving that whether you’re healing your body or building financial freedom, sustainable change doesn’t come from quick fixes… it comes from understanding the root cause and making better choices consistently. Connect with Tanner here: https://www.linkassetmgmt.com/ Key Takeaways • Financial health and physical health follow the same principle: symptoms often point to deeper underlying patterns. • Budgeting isn’t a restriction — it creates awareness around unconscious habits and spending behaviors. • Small daily decisions compound over time, whether you’re building wealth or improving health. • Impulse spending can quietly sabotage long-term financial stability, just like unhealthy habits impact long-term wellness. • True financial freedom isn’t about becoming rich — it’s about reaching a place where money no longer controls your peace of mind.
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Success Without Sacrifice: The Burnout Lie That's Costing You Everything
06/11/2026
Success Without Sacrifice: The Burnout Lie That's Costing You Everything
What if burnout isn't the price of success—but proof you're doing success wrong? In this powerful conversation, Garrett Wood shares the heartbreaking story that transformed his understanding of achievement, stress, and identity. Drawing from his work in hypnotherapy, nervous system regulation, and executive well-being coaching, Garrett explains why grit, hustle, and pushing harder eventually fail—even for the most driven people. He reveals the hidden drivers of burnout, from misaligned values and sensory overload to subconscious beliefs and emotional labor, and offers a radically different model: one where success comes from alignment, not sacrifice. If you've ever felt exhausted despite doing everything "right," this episode may completely change how you think about performance, purpose, and fulfillment. Connect with Garrett here: Key Takeaways • Burnout isn't a badge of honor. Caring deeply about your work can actually increase your risk if you don't have the right recovery and support systems. • Your environment matters more than you think. Many people aren't broken—they're simply operating in environments that clash with their nervous system needs. • Grit is a useful tool, not a lifestyle. The ability to push through adversity is valuable, but relying on it exclusively eventually leads to burnout. • Success requires alignment. Sustainable performance happens when your values, strengths, role, and environment work together instead of against each other. • Small changes create massive results. The fastest path out of burnout often isn't a dramatic life overhaul—it's identifying and improving the few areas creating the most friction.
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The Hidden Side of Performance: What Most Athletes Never Practice
06/05/2026
The Hidden Side of Performance: What Most Athletes Never Practice
Most athletes spend countless hours training their bodies, but what if the biggest factor holding them back is something they rarely train at all? In this insightful episode of Field Notes, sports psychologist and former Olympic ski coach Andy Liebner reveals why mental performance may be just as important as physical preparation. Drawing from his own journey as an elite athlete, coach, and PhD candidate in sports psychology, Andy shares practical strategies for building confidence, overcoming self-doubt, mastering visualization, and staying focused under pressure. Whether you're a competitive athlete, weekend warrior, coach, parent, or simply someone pursuing better health and performance, this conversation offers powerful lessons on how your mindset can either limit your potential or unlock it. Connect with Andy here: Key Takeaways • The conversations you have with yourself matter most. Your self-talk shapes confidence, resilience, and performance more than any outside influence. • Mental training is often the missing piece. Many athletes believe performance is 50% mental, yet spend almost no time actively training their minds. • Visualization is a powerful performance tool. Mentally rehearsing success can help your brain respond as if you've already experienced the moment before it happens. • Focus on what you want, not what you fear. High performers direct their attention toward desired outcomes instead of trying to avoid mistakes. • Parents, coaches, and mentors have enormous influence. A few well-timed words of encouragement can change an athlete's confidence, mindset, and trajectory.
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Eating Disorders Are Not About Willpower — They’re About Survival
05/27/2026
Eating Disorders Are Not About Willpower — They’re About Survival
In this powerful episode of Field Notes, Heather Moon sits down with Jenny Loudon, co-founder of the Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance, for a compassionate and eye-opening conversation about the reality of eating disorders. Jenny explains why these illnesses are so often misunderstood, overlooked, or minimized — especially when someone does not “look sick.” The discussion explores how eating disorders impact the mind, body, relationships, and identity, while challenging many common assumptions around food, weight, and health. From social media pressure and perfectionism to atypical anorexia, binge eating disorder, orthorexia, and the lack of treatment access in Alaska, this episode offers both education and hope. Most importantly, it reminds listeners that eating disorders are serious, but recovery is absolutely possible with the right support. Learn more about Jenny and AKEDA here: Key Takeaways: • Eating disorders are both mental and physical illnesses — and they can be life-threatening. • You cannot tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at their body. • Disordered eating exists on a spectrum, and people deserve help before things become extreme. • Social media can fuel shame, rigidity, and body comparison, so auditing your feed matters. • Recovery is possible, especially when people get specialized support early.
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Why Most Fitness Advice Fails Women Over 40 with Heidi Cox
05/21/2026
Why Most Fitness Advice Fails Women Over 40 with Heidi Cox
Season 5 of the Field Notes podcast continues with a thoughtful conversation hosted by Heather Moon, who is stepping into a larger hosting role this season with her signature warmth, curiosity, and whole-person approach to health. In this episode, Heather sits down with returning guest and Alaska-based personal trainer Heidi Cox to explore what fitness really looks like when it’s aligned with real life, changing hormones, injury recovery, mental health, and sustainable wellness. Together, they unpack the importance of individualized care, behavior change, movement as medicine, and why true health goes far beyond the number on a scale. From navigating perimenopause and burnout to rebuilding trust with your body after injury, this episode offers an honest, encouraging, and deeply practical conversation about creating strength, resilience, and vitality from the inside out. Learn more about Heidi here: Key Takeaways: • Movement should be viewed as a powerful tool for healing and resilience — not punishment or a checkbox to complete. • Sustainable fitness starts with individualized care: what works for one person may not work for another, especially during hormonal changes, injury recovery, or periods of burnout. • Small, consistent habits often create the biggest long-term results. Simple daily movement, hydration, better sleep, and realistic goals matter more than extreme routines. • Real transformation happens when people connect with their deeper “why” — the emotional reason behind wanting to feel stronger, healthier, or more confident. • True wellness requires a whole-person approach that supports physical health, mental health, nutrition, stress management, and long-term behavior change together.
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Your Home Might Be Making You Sick (And You’d Never Know It) with Dr. Rob Downey
05/13/2026
Your Home Might Be Making You Sick (And You’d Never Know It) with Dr. Rob Downey
What if the headaches, fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, allergies, or “mysterious symptoms” you’ve been chasing for years aren’t just about food, supplements, or stress… but the environment inside your own home? In this fascinating episode of the Field Notes podcast, Dr. Rob Downey and Joe Rignola dive into the emerging concept of “functional medicine for the home” — exploring how air quality, lighting, EMFs, water, cleaning products, and even the items in your pantry may be silently taxing your body every single day. Dr. Rob shares why he partnered with Clean Elements and Lindenhaus, how simple changes like improving lighting or opening windows can dramatically support health, and why creating a safer, lower-stress home environment may unlock healing for people who feel stuck despite “doing everything right.” If you want to have a talk with me or a Lindenhaus team member, or sign up to have your home assessed, here’s my link (this is also where you would express interest in becoming an Advisor on my team in Alaska): More broadly, if you live in Alaska and want to know more, explore the full service here: Most broadly of all, If you live or have a home in the United States, take a look at how it works here (there’s a good chance there’s a Lindenhaus team near you, part of what I want to spread the word about): Key Takeaways: • Your home environment may be contributing to fatigue, headaches, brain fog, poor sleep, and chronic inflammation. • Air quality, lighting, EMF exposure, water contaminants, and personal care products all play a role in overall health. • Simple changes — like improving airflow, adjusting evening lighting, and reducing nighttime screen exposure — can support better sleep and recovery. • Clean Elements home assessments provide personalized insights and practical “swap-out” recommendations without fear-based messaging. • Dr. Rob emphasizes a balanced, step-by-step approach: focus on reducing unnecessary stressors while remembering the body is naturally resilient and designed to heal.
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Your Gut May Be Shaping Your Mood, Stress, Sleep, and Focus More Than You Realize with Dr. Shawn Talbott
04/16/2026
Your Gut May Be Shaping Your Mood, Stress, Sleep, and Focus More Than You Realize with Dr. Shawn Talbott
In this fascinating episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Dr. Shawn Talbott to unpack the powerful connection between the gut and the brain—and why your microbiome may have far more influence over your mental fitness than most people realize. Together, they explore how gut bacteria can affect stress resilience, mood, sleep, motivation, and even cognitive clarity through pathways involving neurotransmitters, inflammation, and the immune system. What makes this conversation especially compelling is that it stays grounded in both science and practicality: yes, there are exciting advances in psychobiotics and targeted supplements, but the real foundation still comes back to everyday choices like eating more fiber, adding fermented foods, improving sleep, and creating the conditions for your body to work with you instead of against you. It’s a smart, hopeful episode that makes a complex topic feel clear, relevant, and actionable. Learn more about Dr. Talbott here: http://3WavesWellness.com 5 Key Takeaways: The gut-brain axis is a two-way communication system, meaning your gut affects your brain, and your stress levels can also directly affect your gut. Certain gut bacteria may influence the production of key neurochemicals like GABA, serotonin, and dopamine, impacting mood, relaxation, motivation, and sleep. Dr. Talbott emphasizes the “3 Fs” for gut health: fiber, fermented foods, and flavonoids. Supplements can be helpful, but they work best when used strategically and alongside lifestyle changes, not as a replacement for them. Better gut health can create a positive upward spiral—helping people feel better, which often leads to better choices around food, movement, and sleep.
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NASA Meets Ancient Healing: The Chronic Illness Breakthroughs You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
04/09/2026
NASA Meets Ancient Healing: The Chronic Illness Breakthroughs You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
In this fascinating episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Greg Lee—a former NASA systems engineer turned acupuncturist and chronic illness specialist—to explore a radically integrative approach to complex health conditions. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, Greg explains how hidden drivers like mold toxicity, stealth infections, nervous system dysregulation, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction can keep people sick even when their labs look “normal.” He walks through the tools he uses to uncover and address these deeper patterns, including advanced medical scanning, frequency-specific microcurrent, nanoparticle botanical therapies, molecular hydrogen, peptides, and insights from Chinese medicine. The result is a conversation that feels both deeply technical and surprisingly hopeful—especially for people who have tried everything and still feel stuck. Learn more about Greg Lee here: Key takeaways: • Greg Lee blends systems engineering, Chinese medicine, and functional healing to approach chronic illness from a completely different angle. • Many chronically ill patients may be dealing with hidden root causes such as mold, co-infections, biofilms, neuroinflammation, and energy depletion. • Greg uses a noninvasive scan to assess stress patterns related to infections, organs, neurotransmitters, detox pathways, and mitochondrial function. • Molecular hydrogen stood out as a major tool for reducing brain fog, calming inflammation, and supporting detoxification and neurological recovery. The episode offers hope for people with complex cases by showing how sequencing the right therapies in the right order can help the body regain stability and resilience.
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You Can’t Supplement Your Way Out of This: What most people miss when they’re “doing everything right” with Christine Ruch
04/01/2026
You Can’t Supplement Your Way Out of This: What most people miss when they’re “doing everything right” with Christine Ruch
In this powerful episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob sits down with Christine Ruch to explore one of the most overlooked pieces of true healing: the nervous system. Christine shares her own journey from being diagnosed with MS and doing everything “right” in the world of diet, supplements, and holistic health—yet still getting sicker—until she discovered that deeper healing required more than a perfect protocol. Together, she and Dr. Rob unpack how unresolved stress, trauma, hypervigilance, and emotional suppression can quietly block recovery, and why embodiment, surrender, and nervous system regulation may be the missing link for so many people with chronic illness. This is a deeply hopeful conversation about learning to trust the body’s wisdom, slow down, and create the inner safety that allows real healing to unfold. Key takeaways: • Healing is not always about doing more. Sometimes it starts by addressing nervous system dysregulation beneath the surface. • You can eat perfectly, take the right supplements, and still stay stuck if stress and trauma are running the show • Embodiment is not a concept to think about. It is a felt experience of being present in your body and learning to listen to it. • Real healing often requires surrender, allowance, and trust rather than rigid control and constant striving. • One simple starting point: sit with discomfort for 30 seconds at a time and remind yourself, “There is nothing to fix.” Learn more about Christine here: https://www.christineruch.com/
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The Most Powerful ‘Treatment’ Isn’t a Treatment at All with Frank Alioto
03/26/2026
The Most Powerful ‘Treatment’ Isn’t a Treatment at All with Frank Alioto
This episode of Field Notes, hosted by Nurse Practitioner Heather Moon, explores the often-overlooked intersection between functional medicine and spirituality through a deeply human conversation with hospital chaplain Frank Alioto. Together, they move beyond protocols and lab results to examine how meaning, connection, and presence shape the healing process just as much as biology. Frank shares powerful insights from his work with patients and families in moments of uncertainty, emphasizing that true care isn’t about having the right answers—it’s about showing up, asking the right questions, and honoring what matters most to each person. The conversation reveals that healing is not simply the absence of disease, but a holistic experience that includes emotional, relational, and spiritual well-being—and that sometimes, the most profound intervention is simply being present. Key Takeaways: • Healing is multidimensional—true wellness includes physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health. • The question “What matters most to you right now?” often reveals deeper needs than symptoms alone. • Presence—not just treatment—is one of the most powerful forms of care in both medicine and life. • Spiritual distress and unresolved emotional issues can manifest physically and impact long-term health. • Illness can be both something to address clinically and a catalyst for deeper reflection, growth, and meaning.
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The Hidden Cause of Hormone Imbalance Most Doctors Miss
03/19/2026
The Hidden Cause of Hormone Imbalance Most Doctors Miss
In this powerful Field Notes episode, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Dr. Jeff Brown to unpack a topic that far too many women have been told to simply endure: painful periods, hormone imbalance, and the deeper systemic issues driving their symptoms. Dr. Brown shares his journey from conventional medicine into functional and regenerative care, explaining why he became frustrated with symptom management and was drawn to a root-cause approach that actually helps people heal. Together, they explore why women are so often dismissed in traditional medical settings, why common does not mean normal when it comes to menstrual pain, and how conditions like endometriosis can dramatically improve when the body is supported through better testing, nutrition, stress reduction, gut healing, detoxification, and properly balanced hormones. It’s an eye-opening conversation that offers both validation and hope for women who are tired of being told to “push through” symptoms that deserve real attention. Learn more about Dr. Brown here: http://hormonehealthwithdrbrown.com Painful periods are common, but they are not normal and should be seen as a sign that something deeper needs to be addressed. Dr. Brown explains why many women feel dismissed in conventional medicine, especially in rushed, insurance-based models that leave little room for complex root-cause care. Proper hormone testing matters, and timing is key—especially testing during the luteal phase to better understand estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone balance. Healing often requires a whole-body approach, including gut health, inflammation reduction, detoxification support, movement, and nervous system regulation. Dr. Brown shares a transformative endometriosis case that shows how powerful the right functional approach can be in restoring hope, balance, and quality of life.
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Doctors Told Her to Live With Migraines… Until She Found This. Kim Heintz
03/04/2026
Doctors Told Her to Live With Migraines… Until She Found This. Kim Heintz
In this episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob sits down with functional health practitioner Kim Heintz to explore the long and frustrating journey that led her from chronic illness to vibrant health. Kim shares how debilitating migraines that began in childhood eventually spiraled into anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, and digestive issues—symptoms that conventional medicine struggled to explain or resolve. After being told she might simply have to live with these problems, Kim began digging deeper and discovered the power of functional medicine testing, root-cause investigation, and lifestyle changes. Together, Kim and Dr. Rob discuss how hidden stressors—ranging from gut dysfunction and food sensitivities to mineral imbalances and environmental stress—can quietly accumulate until the body reaches a breaking point. Kim’s story offers both a cautionary tale about ignoring subtle health signals and an empowering reminder that when we identify and address the real drivers of illness, meaningful healing is possible. Learn more about Kim here: https://www.kimheintz.com/ Key Takeaways • Chronic symptoms often have deeper root causes. Migraines, fatigue, anxiety, and digestive issues are frequently connected through underlying imbalances rather than being isolated problems. • The “bucket theory” explains symptom overload. When stressors like poor diet, toxins, infections, and emotional stress pile up, the body eventually reaches a tipping point where symptoms appear. • Functional testing can reveal hidden drivers of illness. Tools like GI testing and mineral analysis can uncover imbalances that traditional labs often miss. • Gut health plays a central role in whole-body wellness. Many chronic symptoms—from migraines to mood changes—can be linked back to gut dysfunction and inflammation. • Small foundational habits can create big health shifts. Hydration, mineral balance, diet changes, and stress management can dramatically reduce symptom burden when applied consistently.
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Your Child Isn’t a “Picky Eater.” Here’s What’s Really Going On at the Dinner Table with Lena Livinski
02/26/2026
Your Child Isn’t a “Picky Eater.” Here’s What’s Really Going On at the Dinner Table with Lena Livinski
In this Field Notes conversation, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with speech-language pathologist and holistic feeding specialist, Lena Livinsky to reframe “picky eating” as a whole-body, whole-family issue—less about willpower or “bad behavior,” and more about safety, biology, skills, and environment. Lena shares how conventional feeding therapy often over-focuses on behavior, and how working through her own child’s selective eating helped her connect the dots: when a child’s nervous system is dysregulated or their gut and sensory systems are off, eating can feel threatening, not nourishing. She introduces her BLOOM Framework—rooted in connection—to help caregivers zoom out, identify the real bottleneck, and create steady, realistic shifts that help kids feel safe enough to explore food again. Learn more about Lene here: Key takeaways • Connection and nervous system regulation are the “root” of progress—kids can’t “rest and digest” when they don’t feel safe. • “Picky eating” is often better understood as selective eating with underlying drivers (discomfort, sensory load, stress, gut imbalance). • Lena’s BLOOM Framework maps the core levers: Balanced health, Learned oral skills, Optimal microbiome, Open exploration, Mealtime boundaries. • You can do a lot at home before (or alongside) extensive testing: simplify gut disruptors, support circadian/light hygiene, and create low-pressure exposure to food. If something feels off (limited foods, gagging/choking, food pocketing), trust your gut and seek the right-fit, interdisciplinary support—small changes, started early or late, can still move the needle. If you have a child (or grandchild) in your life who struggles at the dinner table… this conversation might change how you see everything.
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What If You’ve Been Looking at Mental Health All Wrong? The 4 Pillars Approach to Lasting Happiness
02/19/2026
What If You’ve Been Looking at Mental Health All Wrong? The 4 Pillars Approach to Lasting Happiness
In this episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with integrative psychiatric provider Dr. Josh Waddell to unpack mental health through a functional medicine lens—moving beyond symptom labels and “chemical imbalance” shortcuts to ask what’s actually driving anxiety, depression, and emotional instability in the first place. Dr. Waddell lays out a clear roadmap for understanding mental illness as a progression—from real-world triggers to cellular/mitochondrial disruption to downstream neurotransmitter changes—then introduces his practical “Four Pillars” framework (Body, Mind, Spirit, Environment) to help people pinpoint where their system is wobbling and what to address first. The conversation is equal parts compassionate and actionable, emphasizing that mental health struggles are not a character flaw, that healing is often about restoring stability in the right pillar(s), and that the best plan is the one that meets you where you are—sometimes including medication as a bridge so deeper root-cause work can actually stick. Learn more about Dr. Josh Waddell here: 5 Key Takeaways Mental health symptoms often follow a progression: triggers → mitochondrial/cellular dysfunction → neurotransmitter changes, so “root cause” usually sits upstream of brain chemicals. The Four Pillars (Body, Mind, Spirit, Environment) offer a simple way to identify what’s most off—and why progress can stall when you’re only focusing on one area. You can’t out-supplement a toxic context: chronic stress, unhealthy relationships, burnout jobs, or constant distressing media exposure can keep the nervous system stuck. A timeline exercise (mapping life events, illnesses, stressors, and turning points) can reveal the earliest catalyst and clarify where to start. Supplements can help, but basics matter: food-first, third-party testing, avoid vague proprietary blends, and match herbs/supports to your symptom pattern—not trends.
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Your Body Knows the Way: The Healing Conversation Most Doctors Never Have
02/11/2026
Your Body Knows the Way: The Healing Conversation Most Doctors Never Have
In this episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Dr. Jen Mann to talk about one of the most frustrating (and common) experiences in modern health care: the “mystery illness” — the symptoms that don’t fit neatly into a diagnosis, and the exhaustion that comes from chasing answers. Instead of defaulting to more tests, more protocols, or another “perfect stack,” Dr. Jen invites a different starting point: your body already has information — and learning to listen is part of the medicine. Together, they explore how healing can be both science and art… and how true recovery often begins when we shift from “fixing what’s broken” to cultivating more aliveness. Along the way, Dr. Rob shares how many patients get stuck in the pressure to “figure it out,” and why the relief sometimes comes not from finally getting a label — but from rebuilding trust in your own internal guidance, regulating your nervous system, and finding support that makes the journey feel human again. Key Takeaways Healing is both science and art. Tests and protocols can help, but they’re most powerful when paired with presence, self-compassion, and deeper listening. Mystery illness can be a doorway, not a life sentence. Reframing symptoms as signals (instead of personal failures) reduces suffering and opens curiosity and growth. You are the primary agent in your healing. Doctors, supplements, AI, and tools can support you — but your relationship with your body is the foundation. Rigid wellness routines can become another form of stress. Hustle culture can sneak into “health” and keep the nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight. Regulation + connection accelerate recovery. Nervous system practices (done in ways you enjoy) and healing in community/partnership can fast-track progress and reduce overwhelm.
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Medicine at the Edge: What Extreme Wilderness Care Teaches Us About Burnout, Purpose, and Real Healing
02/04/2026
Medicine at the Edge: What Extreme Wilderness Care Teaches Us About Burnout, Purpose, and Real Healing
In this powerful episode of Field Notes—hosted by Nurse Practitioner Heather Moon—we’re joined by Mary Ellen Doty, NP, a pioneer in wilderness medicine and founder of Wilderness Medical Staffing. Mary Ellen shares gripping stories from serving as the sole medical provider in some of the most remote and unforgiving environments on earth, including Bush Alaska, where medicine is practiced not by protocol alone—but with presence, creativity, and deep respect for the human story. Learn more about Mary Ellen here: https://maryellendoty.com/ Her journey reveals a stark contrast between relationship-centered care in extreme settings and the burnout-driven pace of modern corporate medicine, offering timely lessons on resilience, meaning, and what it truly takes to heal both patients and practitioners. Drawing from decades of experience and her upcoming book Medicine at 50 Below, this conversation is a moving reminder that when medicine slows down, humanity shows up—and everyone benefits. Key Takeaways: True healing requires presence and time, not rushed, transactional care Burnout in healthcare is driven more by loss of meaning than lack of money Rotational and boundary-based work models can restore balance for clinicians Harsh environments reveal the importance of community, adaptability, and systems thinking Practicing medicine with purpose benefits patients, providers, and entire communities This episode is a powerful reminder that the future of medicine isn’t about doing more—it’s about caring deeper. If you’ve ever felt burned out, disillusioned, or called to a more human way of healing, this conversation will stay with you.
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From Desperation to Breakthrough: A Mother’s Journey That Redefined Whole-Body Healing with Dr. Chloe Weber
01/29/2026
From Desperation to Breakthrough: A Mother’s Journey That Redefined Whole-Body Healing with Dr. Chloe Weber
In this powerful episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Dr. Chloe Weber for a deeply human conversation at the intersection of functional medicine, Chinese medicine, and lived experience. Dr. Weber shares how her son’s rare neurological condition became the catalyst for her life’s work—pushing her beyond the limits of conventional care and into the ecosystem-based wisdom of Chinese herbal medicine, CBD, and spagyric extraction. Together, they explore why modern chronic illness demands a proactive, pattern-based approach to health, how ancient formulas can be intelligently adapted for today’s world, and why women’s hormonal health and neurological resilience deserve far more nuanced support than they currently receive. Learn more about Dr. Chloe Weber: http://radicalrootsherbs.com and Key Takeaways: Chinese medicine treats the body as an ecosystem, not a collection of isolated parts—addressing root patterns, not just symptoms. Personal healing journeys often spark the most powerful innovations, as seen in Dr. Chloe Weber’s work born from advocating for her son’s neurological health. Herbal formulas and CBD can be deeply therapeutic when used intelligently and in ways that support underlying imbalances. Modern health challenges require updated ancient wisdom, blending time-tested Chinese medicine with today’s science and realities. Women’s hormonal health needs cycle-aware, dynamic support, not one-size-fits-all solutions. This episode is equal parts science, story, and soul—an inspiring reminder that true healing begins when we stop treating symptoms in isolation and start supporting the whole human system.
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Doing Everything ‘Right’ but Still Feel Off? This Gut Insight Changes Everything with Jacqui Meehan
01/21/2026
Doing Everything ‘Right’ but Still Feel Off? This Gut Insight Changes Everything with Jacqui Meehan
What if the missing link behind stubborn hormone issues, mood swings, fatigue, and digestive chaos isn’t your hormones at all—but your gut? In this powerful Field Notes conversation, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with nutritionist and gut-health expert Jacqui Meehan to unpack the deeply personal story that led her from chronic illness to healing, and why the microbiome is the true cornerstone of vibrant health. Learn more about Jacqui here: Together, they explore the gut-brain-hormone connection, why so many people “do everything right” and still feel awful, and how simple, overlooked shifts in digestion, lifestyle, and nutrient absorption can unlock dramatic changes in energy, mood, and hormonal balance—especially for women. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, stuck, or frustrated by surface-level health advice, this episode may completely change how you understand your body—and where real healing begins. Key Takeaways: Gut health is foundational—not secondary. The microbiome influences digestion, immunity, hormones, and mood. You cannot fully heal or optimize health without first stabilizing gut function. You’re not just what you eat—you’re what you absorb. Many people eat well but still feel depleted because poor digestion and low stomach acid block nutrient assimilation. Fixing absorption often unlocks rapid improvements. Stress directly disrupts digestion and hormones. Chronic stress shifts the nervous system into fight-or-flight, suppressing stomach acid, bile flow, and gut motility—setting the stage for inflammation and imbalance. The gut and brain are in constant two-way communication. Through the vagus nerve and microbial metabolites, gut health shapes mood, stress resilience, and emotional regulation—sometimes even more than mindset alone. Hormonal balance depends on the microbiome. Certain gut bacteria can recycle excess estrogen instead of eliminating it, contributing to estrogen dominance, PMS, PMDD, and PCOS—making gut repair essential for hormone health.
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The Hidden Reason Your Healing Stalls—Even When You’re Doing Everything Right with Veronique Ory
01/15/2026
The Hidden Reason Your Healing Stalls—Even When You’re Doing Everything Right with Veronique Ory
In this deeply moving episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Veronique Ory to explore the powerful intersection of embodiment, trauma, and healing. Veronique shares how lived experiences—especially those shaped by early life, intergenerational trauma, and unexpressed emotion—are stored in the body, influencing our health, behavior, and sense of safety long after the original events have passed. Together, they unpack why healing isn’t about “fixing” ourselves, but about creating enough safety to let go, soften old narratives, and reconnect with the body through compassion, curiosity, movement, and presence. Blending wisdom from yoga, somatic work, psychology, and functional medicine, this conversation offers a hopeful, grounded reminder that when we learn to listen to the body—and honor both pain and joy—profound personal and collective transformation becomes possible. Learn more about Veronique here: http://YogaWithVeronique.com Key takeaways: All experience is embodied. Emotions, stress, and trauma don’t just live in our thoughts—they are stored in the nervous system, fascia, and tissues, shaping health patterns until they are consciously felt and released. Healing requires safety, not force. We often hold on to old wounds because they once protected us. True healing happens only when the body feels safe enough to let go, not when the mind tries to “fix” or override the process. Suppressed emotions create bigger reactions later. No emotion is inherently bad, but unexpressed feelings tend to surface as overwhelm, illness, or sudden emotional eruptions. Somatic practices allow emotions to move through the body in healthy ways. Forgiveness is about freedom, not approval. Letting go of old stories and grievances isn’t about condoning what happened—it’s about releasing the emotional charge so it no longer hijacks the body or dictates health outcomes. Small shifts can create paradigm-level change. Gentle, embodied actions—like changing daily habits, slowing down, choosing nourishing movement, or removing inflammatory inputs—can unlock profound transformations in health, agency, and self-trust.
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The Surprising Longevity Blueprint: Why You May Be Missing This Key Piece of The Formula with Dr. Avinish Reddy
01/08/2026
The Surprising Longevity Blueprint: Why You May Be Missing This Key Piece of The Formula with Dr. Avinish Reddy
In this Field Notes conversation, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Dr. Avinish Reddy to explore a powerful but often overlooked truth about longevity: social connection isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a biological necessity. While modern health culture fixates on metrics like VO₂ max, glucose, sleep scores, and diet precision, Dr. Reddy explains how meaningful relationships directly shape stress physiology, immune function, metabolic health, and long-term vitality. Drawing from clinical data, neuroscience, and real-world patient outcomes, the episode reframes connection as a measurable driver of healthspan — one that lowers inflammation, stabilizes blood sugar, improves sleep, and reduces mortality risk. The message is simple but profound: optimizing health in isolation is incomplete. Longevity is built in relationship. Key Takeaways Social connection is a core pillar of longevity, with isolation linked to up to a 50% increase in early mortality risk Meaningful relationships lower stress hormones, improve sleep quality, and positively influence glucose and inflammation Simple daily habits (calling loved ones, walking with friends, shared meals) outperform complex protocols when sustained long-term Healthspan depends on integrating social connection with movement, nutrition, and purpose — not tracking metrics alone The benefits of connection compound over decades, making midlife habits critical for long-term resilience and vitality Learn more about Dr. Reddy: https://www.elevatedmedical.com/
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Mushrooms Beyond the Hype: Energy, Healing, and What Most People Get Wrong
12/17/2025
Mushrooms Beyond the Hype: Energy, Healing, and What Most People Get Wrong
Dr. Rob Downey welcomes Benjamin Bressington for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the mushroom hype cycle and into lived experience, integrity, and true therapeutic potential. Benjamin traces his path into mushrooms through years spent navigating infertility and IVF, where he witnessed firsthand the physical and emotional toll of narrow, protocol-driven medicine. That disillusionment, combined with his own struggle with depression as a high-performing entrepreneur, led him to explore mushrooms as a tool for accessing buried trauma and restoring a sense of vitality that talk therapy alone never unlocked. The discussion then turns practical and deeply educational. Benjamin breaks down why caffeine creates a cycle of “borrowed energy” and crashes, while certain functional mushrooms support the body’s natural energy systems more sustainably. He also exposes why many mushroom supplements fail—using clear analogies to explain the difference between fruiting bodies and mycelium, and why extraction methods matter so much. By unpacking spagyric extraction and microdosing concepts, this episode equips listeners to make informed, discerning choices in a rapidly growing (and often misleading) wellness space. Time stamps 01:27–06:19 — Infertility, IVF, and disillusionment with conventional medicine 03:04–04:08 — Depression, trauma, and mushrooms as a catalyst for healing 08:43–10:12 — Caffeine crashes vs. clean, adaptogenic mushroom energy 18:12–24:08 — Fruiting bodies, extraction methods, and why most products fail Key takeaways Caffeine often stimulates fake energy, while mushroom adaptogens support real, sustainable energy production. The therapeutic impact of mushrooms depends heavily on fruiting body sourcing and extraction quality. Many “high-dose” mushroom products are ineffective because they rely on mycelium and weak extraction methods. Ancient practices like spagyric extraction and microdosing offer insights that modern wellness often overlooks. Get your free sample: https://checkout.bareremedy.net/energygummy1?event_id=1ecc8bda-7d0c-4db1-a6e7-850bf586a522
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Surprising Facts About Your Skin and How to Care for it with Marcia Mankin
12/11/2025
Surprising Facts About Your Skin and How to Care for it with Marcia Mankin
Heather Moon, our wonderful nurse practitioner here at Seaworthy, is taking over as host for this episode of The Field Notes Podcast! She welcomes fellow NP, Marcia Mankin, whose lifelong passion for skin health began on a Wyoming ranch and deepened through profound personal experiences with melanoma in her family. Together, they explore something I wish more people understood: your skin isn’t just a surface. It’s a living, intelligent messenger—constantly reflecting your internal health, your environment, your stress levels, your sleep quality, and even your emotional state. Marcia brings decades of surgical and clinical wisdom to this conversation, helping us see how skin changes often reveal what’s happening before we see it anywhere else. Heather and Marcia also unpack the lifestyle patterns that shape skin health—nutrition, movement, hydration, sun exposure, and daily habits—and they shine a light on popular aesthetic trends that may do more harm than good. It’s an empowering, science-grounded discussion that reminds us that the fundamentals matter far more than quick fixes. If you’ve ever wondered why your skin suddenly looks dull, inflamed, puffy, reactive, or “off,” this episode will help you understand the deeper story and make meaningful changes that support whole-body vitality. 5 Key Takeaways Your skin is often the first place deeper issues—autoimmune, inflammatory, emotional, or organ-related—show up. Whole foods, adequate protein, hydration, and micronutrients directly support collagen, repair, and radiance. Stress, sleep quality, and emotional health influence the skin almost immediately—often within hours. Be cautious with trendy aesthetic procedures like PDO threads and injectable PDGF; research is limited, and risks include inflammation and scarring. The most powerful skin practices are simple: daily sunscreen, gentle cleansing, hydration, good sleep, and consistent care.
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Why Food Isn’t Enough: The Hidden Key to Healing
11/18/2025
Why Food Isn’t Enough: The Hidden Key to Healing
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, cognitive clarity, and daily rituals that restore vitality. The conversation highlights simple, “common-sense” lifestyle practices — like scheduled breaks, outdoor time, and herbal tea — as essential foundations for wellness. Timestamps: 02:40 – Diet alone not healing patients. 04:54 – Break culture urgently needs revival. 06:43 – Breaks must be truly restorative. 13:48 – Herbal teas reintroduced into practice. 21:39 – Gut drives overall body health. _______________________________________________________________________ Key Takeaways: Breaks are essential for true healing. Stress blocks digestion and vitality. Nature exposure boosts parasympathetic activity. Herbal teas support gut and mind. Simple habits outperform complex interventions.
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Hypnosis + Hormones: The Unexpected Female Reset
11/11/2025
Hypnosis + Hormones: The Unexpected Female Reset
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 completely new way. The conversation offers raw personal testimony, practical tools for women navigating hormonal chaos, and a message that transformation is possible when you stop trying to live by old rules. Timestaps: (00:05:12) Realizing the symptoms meant perimenopause (00:18:45) Doctors dismissed her pain and fog (00:29:33) Discovering RTT & hypnosis as tools (00:41:20) Hormone therapy changed her outlook (00:55:10) Reclaiming identity beyond physical symptoms ____________________________________________________________________________ Key Takeaways: Hormonal life changes demand identity transformation Medical dismissal doesn’t mean symptoms aren’t real RTT and hypnosis changed her internal narrative Hormone therapy unlocked physical and mental clarity Reclaiming femininity starts with redefining self
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Stop Searching Outside Yourself for Healing—Your Body Already Knows The Way with Dr. Marissa Heisel
11/06/2025
Stop Searching Outside Yourself for Healing—Your Body Already Knows The Way with Dr. Marissa Heisel
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 health. (00:02) Introduction to Dr. Marissa Heisel and the theme of self-healing (02:11) Her transition from conventional medicine to holistic practice (03:48) Core philosophy: “You are your own best medicine” (08:24) How cultural conditioning undermines women’s body wisdom (32:05) Practical guidance—using breath and nature to reconnect to inner balance Key Takeaways We are both our own best expert and our most powerful healer. Cultural conditioning often erodes self-trust, leading to overreliance on external validation. True healing begins by simplifying—removing noise and reconnecting with the body’s signals. Mindful breathing and grounding in nature are accessible ways to restore inner clarity and resilience. Learn more about Dr. Marissa here:
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How the Power of Smell Can Heal Mind and Body
10/28/2025
How the Power of Smell Can Heal Mind and Body
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 regulation. Timestamps: (01:18) Started using oils for sleep (03:50) Discovered vagus-nerve stress connection (05:57) Created clove-lime parasympathetic blend (12:49) Used rose oil to heal grief (27:15) Linked neck fascia to relaxation ____________________________________________________________________________ Key Takeaways: Smell directly accesses the brain. Oils can shift stress to calm. The vagus nerve controls healing. Grief inspired powerful emotional blends. Regulation begins with the parasympathetic system.
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Connect to Nature: The Simple 'Medicine' Doctors Forget
10/08/2025
Connect to Nature: The Simple 'Medicine' Doctors Forget
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 the benefits of sun exposure and the use of tools like blue blockers. Finally, they delve into the power of sound and frequency for nervous system regulation and the profound importance of belief, purpose, and community as fundamental, root causes of health and well-being. Timestamps: (01:05) Lifestyle is the wellspring of health. (03:04) Life you live is medicine. (04:51) Get outside; get natural sunlight. (26:54) Sound shifts nervous system state. (33:20) Purpose, community matter most. _______________________________________________________________________ Key Takeaways: Your life, not pills, is the medicine. Restore your body's natural health blueprint. Daily sun exposure regulates your health. Sound and rhythm heal the nervous system. Purpose and community are the best medicine.
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The Gut–Heart Connection Your Doctor Missed
10/01/2025
The Gut–Heart Connection Your Doctor Missed
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 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 _______________________________________________________________________ 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
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Food, Mood & The Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Melissa Mondala
09/25/2025
Food, Mood & The Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Melissa Mondala
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 choices shape your mind, body, and resilience, this episode offers a hopeful roadmap for lasting vitality. Key takeaways: The gut produces 90% of neurotransmitters, directly linking digestion, immunity, and mood. Plant-based eating and stress reduction resolved Dr. Mandala’s IBS and improved her husband’s autoimmune symptoms. Nutritional counseling can achieve remission rates for depression equal to or better than SSRIs. Short, frequent “exercise snacks” throughout the day boost energy, mood, and clarity. Sleep, environmental toxins, and even sensitivity to noise all play major roles in mental health.
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Post Betrayal Transformation with Dr. Debi Silber
08/27/2025
Post Betrayal Transformation with Dr. Debi Silber
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 body. The conversation highlights the importance of moving beyond survival mode, establishing boundaries, and embracing forgiveness at the right stage of healing. Her initiative, National Forgiveness Day, also underscores the power of intentional, guided emotional recovery. Timestamps: (01:23) Time doesn’t heal betrayal wounds. (02:13) Betrayal breaks spoken, unspoken rules. (05:24) Personal power loss affects healing. (13:02) Healing has five predictable stages. (33:19) Forgiveness accelerates when timed right. _______________________________________________________________________ Key Takeaways: Betrayal impacts mind, body, and spirit. Time alone doesn’t heal betrayal trauma. Healing follows five defined transformation stages. Survival mode can block true recovery. Forgiveness works—but only when ready.
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