Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine

In this episode, Dr. Rob Downey sits down with Matthieu Mehuys a landscape architect and passionate gardener, shares his journey from growing up on a family farm to becoming a global expert in regenerative gardening. He discusses the power of nature, how gardening can enhance personal health, and the importance of regenerating the planet through soil restoration. Matthieu also explains the benefit...

In this episode, Dr. Rob Downey and Evan Transue discuss the evolution of functional medicine and its ability to address chronic health issues by using functional lab testing. They explore the strengths of Western medicine in life-threatening conditions and the limitations it faces in dealing with long-term health problems. Evan shares his personal journey with multiple health diagnoses and highli...

In this episode of Field Notes, Dr. Rob Downey interviews Jane Hogan, "The Wellness Engineer," who shares her innovative approach to addressing chronic pain through neuroplasticity, breathwork, and nervous system regulation. Drawing from her engineering background and expertise in functional medicine, Hogan explains how trauma and subconscious patterns contribute to pain and highlights the power o...

In this episode, Dr. Rob speaks with Saril Vasquez, a functional medicine expert, about a holistic approach to hair loss. Saril shared her personal journey of overcoming severe hair thinning and how she discovered the root causes, like leaky gut, inflammation, hormone imbalances, and lifestyle factors.   They discuss how most hair loss can be reversed through proper nutrition, personalized supplem...

Today's episode is a bit different. This is a local lecture I did on Peace. I explore the vital role of peace in our overall health and well-being. While many believe that diet is the single most important factor, I challenge that assumption by suggesting that effective stress management may actually have an even greater impact on health.  Drawing on tools from functional medicine, I explain how o...

In this episode, Dr. Rob Downey interviews Dr. Peter Kan about the concept of neurometabolic health, which bridges the connection between brain function and metabolic processes. Dr. Kan explains that optimal brain health depends on balanced blood sugar, adequate oxygenation, nutrient utilization, and inflammation control. He discusses the role of functional medicine in addressing these areas throu...

In this episode, Dr. Jessie Hehmeyer, founder of Well Empowered, shares her approach to functional medicine, which combines data-driven insights with a heart-centered, holistic perspective. She views health as a sacred journey, encouraging clients to move beyond restrictive health narratives and instead create a "vision of vitality" to guide their unique paths toward wellness. Dr. Hehmeyer and hos...

In this podcast episode, Jeff Patterson shares his transformative journey from a young boxer to a meditation expert, emphasizing how meditation can significantly enhance both athletic and everyday performance. He discusses the deeper principles of meditation, including the concept of yielding, which involves physical, mental, and emotional adaptability. Jeff explains how regulating the body, breat...

Dr. Rob is joined by functional medicine practitioner Dr. Sam Shay. They discuss the role of genetics in weight management, explaining that excess weight is often a symptom of deeper health issues rather than the primary problem.  He categorizes weight gain into three main types—inflammatory, hormonal, and caloric—each influenced by specific genetic factors such as inflammation genes, vitamin D re...

In this episode of the "Field Notes" podcast, Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Silvia Covelli and Dr. Achina Stein about a groundbreaking 45-day program aimed at addressing treatment-resistant depression through a holistic, functional medicine approach. Silvia shares her personal journey of overcoming severe depression after 25 years, highlighting the importance of integrating physical and mental health...

I'm excited to share one of my favorite interviews I've ever done. It's with the Father of Functional Medicine, Dr. Jeffrey Bland. This interview is from our Rewire Your Brain Masterclass, and I'm making it available for a limited time because I believe it will truly help so many people.  Dr. Bland discusses the intimate connection between the immune system and the brain. Much like the brain, the...

Trauma expert and co-founder of Rebel Health Tribe, Michael Roesslein, joins Dr. Rob for this special episode of the podcast.  This interview was part of our Rewire Your Brain Masterclass. It will be archived at the end of June, so be sure to listen now.  Michael discusses how to take a truly holistic approach to mental health and whole-body healing. He also goes deep into how the body may actuall...

On this episode, I'm joined by women's health and hormones expert Dr. Mariza Snyder.    Dr. Mariza illuminates the critical connection between glucose and insulin levels and how they impact our hormones and energy. Blood sugar is often misunderstood and not talked about enough, so this conversion is truly an eye-opener.    We also discuss ways to take your power and freedom back with the help of a...

Metabolism and weight loss expert Nagina Abdullah joins me for a fascinating podcast episode. Nagina has been helping women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond get lean and feeling their best for many years.  We're so fortunate to have her share her best insights and tips today so you can learn how to easily boost your metabolism and energy WITHOUT restrictive dieting.  Yes, you can eat healthy and...

Dr. Elena Villanueva joins the podcast to discuss a new era in health and healing. We talk about getting to the real root causes of disease, like stress, trauma, and even generational trauma. She breaks down the often misunderstood topics of energy medicine, quantum science, and much more.  Join us for this fascinating conversation and learn how to go beyond pills and prescriptions and get to the...

Carol Comfort joins the podcast again for an enlightening conversation about health coaching and finding your personal path to healing.    They discuss having a tailored plan for health because everyone's journey is unique and it's critical to follow your own path forward.   Dr. Rob and Carol talk about where to start and how important it is to create tiny but powerful habits.  Don't miss this won...

Dr. Keesha Ewers joins the podcast to shed light on a topic that's too often in the shadows: Sex Health. They discuss hormones, "life force," trauma, the nervous system, and more. They also dive deep into what is "Functional Sexology," a term coined by Dr. Keesha.    Dr. Keesha tells us about what she calls the "yellow brick road" of growth, healing, and gaining wisdom and strength.    You'll lear...

In this episode, Dr. Rob is joined by Dr. Anna Cabeca to bring clarity to the often complex topic of women's health and hormones.  Women suffering from conditions like fatigue, hormone imbalances, skin and hair issues, mood swings, hot flashes, and more, are often told it's a normal part of aging.  Dr. Anna is here to clear the confusion and offer real solutions and relief.  You'll learn about… [3...

On this episode of Field Notes: An Exploration in Functional Medicine Podcast, Dr. Rob Downey is joined by Dr. Christine Schaffner, a naturopathic doctor and an expert in lymphatics.   [00:20] Introduction [04:05] Lymphatics [13:55] The function of a scar [21:00] Injections and scar tissue [27:59] What you can do to optimize your lymphatic system [37:18] Functional medicine as a paradigm shift [39...

If you're a highly sensitive person or deeply empathetic, you may easily pick up on subtle energies in the environment and go into fight, flight, or freeze mode. Dr. Rob Downey  speaks with  Dr. Natasha Fallahi , The Sensitive Doctor. She is a MindBodyHealth expert, functional medicine practitioner, and Certified Autoimmune Coach specializing in an intuitive approach to living and healing. Downloa...

Deb Matthew MD, The Happy Hormones Doctor, joins the podcast today. She is a frequent guest expert on podcasts, radio, and TV news and talk shows, with more than 60 appearances on NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX. Dr Deb suffered for years with fatigue and irritability, and her quest to restore her own health led her to change everything about how she practices medicine. Together, we discuss hormones, how t...

The topic of Pelvic Floor Fitness is not discussed nearly enough, despite the fact that pelvic floor issues affect millions of people.  Jana Danielson joins the podcast to pull back the curtain on the health implications that the pelvic floor has for women and men  You'll learn about: [1:30] - Why this isn't talked about enough [7:35] - The little-known and extremely important nerve  [14:00 - The...

In this episode, Dr. Rob is joined by Dr. Jaban Moore to discuss intestinal permeability, AKA, "leaky gut."  Leaky gut can impact virtually all aspects of your health. Dr. Moore lays out some practical guidance you can take today to help you heal.  Highlights: [2:45] - What is leaky gut? [14:44] - Root causes of leaky gut [19:20] - Conventional medicine vs. functional medicine [24:00] - Leaky gut-...

On this week's episode of Field Notes: An Exploration of Functional Medicine, Dr. Rob Downey is joined by Dr. Heidi Hanna to discuss stress, how it impacts the brain and body, and tips for how we can be more resilient to stress.   [05:30] How can stress bring out the best in us? [14:00] How can people deal with stressful things that come their way without getting swept up into a stressed state? [1...

Dr. Rob Downey speaks with Cory Muscara, and discusses topics like mindfulness. meditation, peace, and engagement.   [04:41] What would you recommend for people who are game to try meditation? [11:37] Mindfulness and healthcare [21:43] How does presence make us strong? How does it help us set boundaries? [29:20] The "blessing" of adversity and what it really means [40:07] Peace and engagement [46:...