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Welcome to The Informed Chiropractor, the go-to podcast for neurologically based chiropractors who are ready to make chiropractic relevant again. Hosted by Dr. Don MacDonald, a 26+ year chiropractor, speaker, and creator of the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol, this show blends vitalistic chiropractic principles with modern neuroscience through the lens of the Polyvagal Theory.
Every week, we explore how to shift from a mechanistic model to a salutogenic, nervous system-forward approach that fosters true regulation, coregulation, and healing. Whether you’re navigating burnout, refining your adjusting, or searching for a clearer way to communicate the value of chiropractic, this podcast is your home.
You’ll hear interviews with global experts, real talk from Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald, and actionable tools to build a practice rooted in safety, interoception, and chiropractic certainty.
👉 If you’re a purpose-driven chiropractor who wants to lead with connection, adjust with clarity, and reclaim the art of healing, you’re in the right place.
Key themes covered:
Neurologically based chiropractic care
Chiropractic and the Polyvagal Theory
Creating safety and co-regulation in practice
Coregulation and the social engagement system
The salutogenic model of health
Interoception and the nervous system
Practice growth without burnout
Subscribe now and join thousands of chiropractors worldwide reimagining what’s possible through a nervous system forward practice.
Episodes

Nov 15, 2017
Nov 15, 2017
37 min
The new challenge for marketers is making messages that are compelling that people will say they're going to pass it around. If the story doesn’t interest people, it is forgotten.
On this episode, we are here with Jonas Sachs. He’s an entrepreneur, author, journalist, and a social change strategist. He created the YouTube sensation, The Meatrix and The Story of Stuff and wrote Winning the Story Wars and Unsafe Thinking.
Jonas shares how making your own authentic story can make people resonate with you and believe in you. He also enumerates five elements of a story that can help any marketer make sure that they're staying on track.
Stories don’t necessarily have to be based on facts because facts can be disbelieved. What’s important is how your story can create personal relationships and prop people up and give them a positive explanation about life and about who they are. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Nov 10, 2017
Nov 10, 2017
42 min
Tristan Schaub is the Co-founder of ChiroSushi. Growing up in a chiropractic office, he decided to take his skills to Silicon Valley. Tristan started working on a bunch of start-ups like DoctorBase and found success in them. Also, he has helped chiropractors with their businesses and helped them understand that they have people they can lean on.
On this episode, he shares his story on how he got arrested in San Francisco and how he ended up being the co-owner of the first ever virtual classroom for approved court-ordered classes.
In spite of the challenges Tristan faced, he continued learning and kept a mindset of self-development. He went into prison with a mentality that he's going to read, learn about people, and develop a new business rather than playing the victim game. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Nov 8, 2017
Nov 8, 2017
41 min
How we manage our personal expectations is crucial to how we perform in life, and keeping our expectations high pushes us to do more to get the results we want.
Too often, our expectations go so low because we don’t trust ourselves and we try to avoid failures. However, in life, failures are unavoidable, and the lessons we will learn from those are invaluable and will shape us for the better.
On this episode, we’re here with Dr. Dan Sullivan, a chiropractor, speaker, author, and one of the most sought-after health experts in the United States. He talks about how being around people who are doing better than you can increase your expectations. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Nov 1, 2017
Nov 1, 2017
33 min
Once we reached the goals we've set for ourselves, we feel comfortable and don't even realize that we’re not doing anything to grow, which then could lead us to back to our old life.
Luis Congdon went homeless and lost everything financially but is now making six figures with his podcast. On this episode, he shares how he continually keeps himself motivated to move forward.
In addition, he talks how belief systems are holding us back from seeing opportunities that are already in front of us, and how we can break down those belief systems to unlock our true potential. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Oct 27, 2017
Oct 27, 2017
40 min
Dr. David Fletcher had a unique way of starting his chiropractic career. In fact, he opened a chiropractic clinic in a hotel room in a Sylvan Lake.
In spite of not having a formal place to practice, he pursued his career and continued moving forward which made his practice took off from there. He realized that outgrowing who he is and learning who he was will get him into the bigger market.
Dr. Fletcher is a speaker, a renowned chiropractor, and the President and CEO of Chiropractic Leadership Alliance (CLA). On today’s episode, he’s going to share his entrepreneurial story and how he was able to own the largest subluxation-focused chiropractic company on the planet. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Oct 25, 2017
Oct 25, 2017
31 min
Dr. Wayne Todd, a chiropractor and the author of SD Protocol says that in the health world, people are running around chasing a diagnosis, a label, or what’s wrong with them. What they don’t realize is stress is the cause of most diseases.
The stress response is a survival mechanism, but if it stays locked on, our body gets all those long-term ramifications. All the good things in our body are shut down.
On this episode, he shares ways on how to handle physical, chemical, and emotional stress. If we know how to tap into minimizing that stress response, then we can be aware of the incredible capacity of our body. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Oct 18, 2017
Oct 18, 2017
27 min
According to Trevor McGregor, who has been coaching and helping people for 25 years, the six rungs of the Ladder of Success are showing up poor, good, great, excellent, outstanding, and extraordinary.
Most of us are showing up at the second echelon of the ladder which is a danger zone. It’s because you’re not creating and doing anything to change.
On this episode, he shares tips on how you can get out of the underdog and live the life that you want. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Oct 11, 2017
Oct 11, 2017
42 min
There may be negative impression or stereotypes towards chiropractic, but that didn't stop Dr. Carol Ann Malizia from pursuing that profession and proving that regardless of her gender, she can be a chiropractor.
Dr. Carol Ann practiced chiropractic in New York for 25 years. She’s a speaker and has helped many chiropractors lived their genius.
She believes that we all have a purpose which ties us together. For us to be able to live our mission without feeling burned out, it is essential to take a look at how we are taking care of ourselves. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Oct 4, 2017
Oct 4, 2017
39 min
Communication is a fundamental skill which enables us to influence people and affect the world.
On this episode with Dr. Martin Harvey, a successful chiropractor and a current Board member of the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, he’s going to talk about the importance of communication and how can we improve our skills in interacting with others.
Dr. Harvey teaches us skills that are needed to manage difficult situations so we still can maintain a respectful relationship with someone who may have different sent beliefs from us. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/

Sep 28, 2017
Sep 28, 2017
37 min
Fear is considered as the main obstacle within our lives because unconsciously, we view it negatively. What we don't realize is that fear gives us an opportunity to grow and to find our authentic self.
Dr. Peter Kevorkian is the President of the ICPA, Chairman of the ICFO, and has been in practice for over 30 years. On this interview, he shares his wisdom on how to find your authentic being.
He shares his experience on how he developed a relationship with his fear or underdog, which is him being an introvert, and not let it stop him from making a difference in people’s lives. He even shares practical steps that you can do to turn those fears into gifts. Get all the resources for this episode and listen to more at http://www.drdonmacdonald.com/
