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 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

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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

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:

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.

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.

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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.

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

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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