In this solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal breaks down one of the most stubborn and misunderstood conditions in foot health — plantar fasciitis.

If you've ever woken up with stabbing heel pain or felt defeated by chronic inflammation that won't go away, this episode is your roadmap to lasting relief. Dr. Emily reveals how plantar fasciitis develops, what's actually happening in your fascia on a microscopic level, and why most treatment approaches miss the root cause.

You'll learn her step-by-step, regenerative approach to getting patients out of pain for good — from the "Put Out the Fire" protocol to cutting-edge growth factor injections — all grounded in functional movement, tissue science, and self-recovery.

This is more than a conversation about heel pain. It's a masterclass in understanding your body's intelligence to heal itself — when you know how to support it.

• The anatomy decoded: What your plantar fascia actually does — and how microtears lead to pain.
• "Put Out the Fire" Protocol: Dr. Emily's four-step system for healing acute and chronic heel pain.
• Regenerative Medicine 101: How growth factor injections repair damaged tissue from the inside out.
• Tissue Stress Theory: Why overuse, not inflammation, is the real driver of chronic injury.
• 💪 The Functional Foot Protocol: How to rebuild foot strength, circulation, and resilience — for life.

• The real science of plantar fasciitis — collagen types, tissue remodeling, and why scar tissue isn't strength.
• How teachers, nurses, and runners can manage high daily stress loads on their feet.
• Why your fascia's "stickiness" after rest causes that sharp morning pain.
• When to know it's time for regenerative treatment — and how it heals tissue naturally.
• The role of red light therapy, systemic enzymes, and sensory stimulation in the recovery process.
• Why surgery should always be the last resort — and what to do instead.

Resources & Links

• Website: thefunctionalfootdoc.com
• Instagram: @thefunctionalfootdoc
• NOBOSO Sensory Tools: noboso.com
• Red Light Therapy: redlighttherapy.com
• Functional Foot Consultation: dremilysplichal.com/contact

In this episode, Dr. Emily sits down with Dr. Neel Bulchandani — chiropractor, movement educator, and creator of the "Floor of the Mouth"–body connection. Neel's work bridges breath, fascial release, integrative movement, and expressive arts, revealing how tension patterns in the tongue, mouth floor, and airway can shape posture, mobility, and nervous-system regulation.

This conversation invites listeners to reconsider how the smallest internal spaces can influence our entire sense of movement, healing, and presence — and what the future of integrative movement education might hold.

Together, they explore:

• Ecstatic Dance & Movement: How expressive movement shaped Neel's understanding of embodiment and body-mind connection.
• Resilience-Building Practices: Movement, breath, sound, and touch techniques to support nervous-system regulation, posture, and mobility.
• The Floor of the Mouth–Body Connection: The genesis of his groundbreaking map, its function beyond anatomy, and how tension here can manifest as broader physical or emotional patterns.
• The Role of Sound: How music, rhythm, and vibration support movement education and nervous-system resilience, plus tips listeners can apply at home.
• What's Next: The future of integrative movement and nervous-system education, and how Neel envisions the next generation of practitioners blending anatomy, somatic intelligence, and emotional literacy.

About Dr. Neel Bulchandani

Dr. Neel Bulchandani is a chiropractor, movement educator, and creator of the Floor of the Mouth–body connection, a model linking oral anatomy to posture, movement, and nervous-system regulation. He integrates breath, fascial release, expressive arts, and sound into his teaching to help individuals reconnect with their bodies and build resilience. Through his Movintuit workshops, courses, and clinical practice, Neel guides movers of all levels to explore embodiment, nervous-system awareness, and holistic healing in innovative, accessible ways.

Resources & Links:

• Instagram: @neelbulchandani
• Website: neelbulchandani.com
• Floor of the Mouth Course: neelbulchandani.com/floorofthemouth
• Movintuit Workshops: neelbulchandani.com/movintuit
• Podcast: Compromised to Alchemized

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal sits down with Chris Chamberlin, Director of Education at WeckMethod, to explore how feedback, rhythm, and rotation can transform the way we move — and the way we live.

With over a decade of experience teaching performance and movement education, Chris shares his philosophy that "the tool is the teacher." Through tools like the RMT® Rope, ProPulse® Speed Trainers, and Clubs, movers can feel truth in motion — shifting from control to intuition.

Together, Emily and Chris unpack:

• Why all movement is rotation — and how spirals shape strength and efficiency
• How to turn information into embodied intelligence
• Why efficiency is the key to presence — on the floor and in life
• How intuitive movement builds stronger, more resilient humans

About Chris Chamberlin

Chris Chamberlin is the Director of Education at WeckMethod, leading global education in rotational movement, rhythm, and functional feedback. Known for his intuitive and accessible teaching style, Chris helps movers of all levels — from elite athletes to everyday enthusiasts — find efficiency and flow using tools like the RMT® Rope, ProPulse® Speed Trainers, and WeckMethod Clubs. Guided by his philosophy "Understand, embody, express," Chris empowers others to move — and live — with intelligence, awareness, and authentic presence.

Resources & Links:

Instagram: @ErodingWeakness

Website: www.weckmethod.com

In this solo episode, functional podiatrist and movement specialist Dr. Emily Splichal breaks down one of the most common—and confusing—questions in foot health: Which shoes are actually best for you?

From barefoot minimalism to super-cushioned sneakers, Dr. Emily reveals how your foot type, injury history, and lifestyle demands determine your ideal footwear. This isn't a one-size-fits-all conversation—it's a masterclass in understanding your body's foundation, the science of movement, and how to walk, train, and live with strength from the ground up.

You'll discover why minimalist shoes aren't always the right answer, when supportive footwear can actually help healing, and how to transition safely into barefoot training without injury. This is the definitive guide to aligning your shoes with your physiology, not your Instagram feed.

• The three questions you must ask before buying any shoe: foot type, injury history, and activity demand.
• Why minimalist shoes build strength—but only when paired with proper foot training.
• The surprising science behind toe splay and metatarsal stability—and how tight shoes sabotage it.
• When super shoes and rockers actually support performance and recovery.
• How to use footwear strategically—healing, training, and everyday life each have their own optimal choice.

• Website: dremilysplichal.com
• Instagram: @thefunctionalfootdoc
• YouTube: The Functional Foot Doc
• NOBOSO Sensory Insoles: noboso.com
• Barefoot Shoe Expo: barefootshoexpo.com
• OrthoFeet: orthofeet.com
• VivoBarefoot: vivobarefoot.com

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal sits down with Dr. Don Wood, clinical counseling PhD, author, and founder of the Inspired Performance Institute. Dr. Wood has spent years researching how trauma affects the mind and the body, helping people reframe past experiences to live at their highest potential.

Together, they explore TIPP (Trauma Integration & Performance Protocol), a groundbreaking framework Dr. Wood developed for processing trauma, enhancing performance, and reducing chronic reactivity. Listeners will gain insights into how trauma—both large and subtle—shapes our daily lives, and practical strategies for healing and growth.

In this conversation, Dr. Don and Dr. Emily dive into:

• What TIPP is and how it differs from conventional therapy or trauma models
• Real-life examples of transformation using TIPP, from individuals to leaders and athletes
• How to integrate TIPP with other modalities like somatics, breathwork, and nervous system work
• The concept of "emotional concussions" and high-definition trauma memory
• Ongoing maintenance practices to sustain shifts in emotional regulation and performance
• Future directions for trauma reprocessing, research, and integration

About Dr. Don Wood

Dr. Don Wood, PhD, is a clinical counseling specialist, author, and founder of the Inspired Performance Institute. He helps people reframe trauma and elevate their lives to a place of high performance, emphasizing that experiences across the lifespan continue to shape our present well-being. Through TIPP, Dr. Wood guides individuals, teams, and leaders to reprocess trauma, reduce chronic reactivity, and thrive emotionally and physically.

Resources & Links:

• Website
• Linktree

What if your pain wasn't just physical? In this transformative episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal sits down with Skye Roberts, a NeuroKinetic Therapy instructor and somatic educator, to explore the powerful connection between emotion, memory, and the body. Together, they unpack how trauma, language, and nervous system regulation shape the way we move, rest, and heal. From grounding and coherence to sound healing and self-awareness, Skye shares practical tools to rewire chronic patterns and create a body that feels safe, resilient, and deeply connected—from the inside out.

In this conversation, Skye and Dr. Emily dive into:

• The connection between emotional patterns and physical pain or compensation
• How NeuroKinetic Therapy reveals hidden causes of chronic dysfunction
• What it means to develop a healing vocabulary and reframe internal dialogue
• Why some people hold trauma differently—through the lens of attachment, support, and nervous system regulation
• The role of sound, coherence, and environment in calming the body's stress response
• How parents can help children co-regulate and build emotional safety early in life

About Skye Roberts

Skye Roberts is a pioneering educator, healer, and Level 3 NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) practitioner whose 30-year career bridges physical, emotional, and neurological healing. After decades of working with clients in pain—from elite athletes to everyday movers—Skye discovered that true recovery extends beyond muscles and joints. Her work focuses on understanding the emotional and mental patterns held in the body and teaching others how to rewire the nervous system for lasting transformation through tools like grounding, breath, and sensory awareness.

Resources & Links:

• Instagram: @skyelangstonroberts

In this powerful and heart-centered episode, Dr. Emily Splichal welcomes Chantal Traub, a seasoned doula, educator, and health coach with more than 25 years of experience guiding women through the transitions of birth, postpartum, and perimenopause.

Together, they explore how polyvagal theory—the science of the vagus nerve and nervous system regulation—can help women cultivate resilience, calm, and confidence through every season of life. From labor to midlife, Chantal shares how nervous system awareness and somatic practices can transform not just how we birth, but how we rest, think, and thrive.

In this conversation, Chantal and Dr. Emily dive into:

• What polyvagal theory is and why it's essential for understanding stress, safety, and connection
• How supporting the nervous system during birth fosters empowerment and smoother outcomes
• Why sleep and cognitive changes in perimenopause are linked to vagal tone and regulation
• Simple daily tools to enhance nervous system balance and brain clarity
• The evolving landscape of women's health—from performance to presence

About Chantal Traub

Chantal Traub is a certified doula, yoga teacher, childbirth educator, and health coach with a holistic focus on women's empowerment through body literacy and nervous system balance. She blends movement, mindfulness, and polyvagal-informed practices to help women reconnect to their innate wisdom through all stages of life—from birth to perimenopause.

Resources & Links:

• Website: chantaltraub.com

• Instagram: @chantal.traub

Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal:
💫 Instagram | Website

Today's guest is Marion McRae, physiotherapist, founder of Movement Solutions, and internationally recognized movement educator based in Western Australia. Marion's approach goes far beyond traditional rehab—blending neuroscience, fascial dynamics, and postural neurology to create a truly integrative model for healing.

Her work challenges us to see movement through a new lens—one that addresses not only the body, but also the mind, emotions, and even past trauma. From exploring the role of psychedelics in trauma release to unpacking how hyper-vigilance impacts learning, Marion is leading the way in bridging science, safety, and emotional healing in the movement space.

In this episode, Marion and Dr. Emily explore:

• How emotional states, limiting beliefs, and past trauma shape movement patterns
• Why a sense of safety must come first in realignment and rehabilitation
• The role of scars, fascia, and weight distribution in holding memory—and how intentional movement can help release old patterns
• Marion's hierarchy of rehab: from emotional basics → biomechanics → fascia → sensory systems
• Her vision for the future of rehab and the changes she hopes to inspire in how we think about healing

If you've ever wondered how movement, memory, and emotions are deeply intertwined—or how creating safety can unlock new pathways to resilience—this conversation will expand the way you think about the body.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Marion's work: Movement Solutions | Bulletproof Backs
• Follow Marion on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube
• Listen to Marion's podcast: Building Bulletproof Backs