The Alternative Flight Plan

One of the challenges in healthcare is that we celebrate intervention while overlooking prevention. Dr. Kristin Barnes and Dr. Jason FauntLeRoy discuss what happens before a diagnosis becomes a crisis. Elevated A1C levels, chronic stress, inflammation, family patterns, and the reality that "well controlled" doesn't always mean symptom free. What stood out most was the reminder that d...

Cannabis isn’t just interacting with symptoms. It’s interacting with a system most people have never been taught exists. The endocannabinoid system regulates balance across nearly every major function in the body. Stress response. Sleep. Pain. Mood. When that system is out of balance, the body works harder to compensate. When it’s supported, regulation becomes more accessible. Chris Adkins brings...

Autoimmune conditions often exist in a space where symptoms are real, but validation is not always immediate. In this episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, Dr. Kristin Barnes is joined by Dr. Jenny Bennett to explore how autoimmune disease presents beyond textbook definitions. The conversation moves from foundational understanding—how the immune system can begin reacting against the body...

Healing is often framed as fixing what’s wrong. But some experiences shift how we understand everything. This conversation with Andrew Weisse explores a broader dimension of psychedelics—one that moves beyond symptom relief into perception, meaning, and the structure of experience itself. Several themes emerge: * Cultural conditioning shapes what we accept—and what we question * Intention distingu...

Healing becomes possible when the nervous system stops bracing for impact. Keith W. Fiveson shares a grounded approach that blends mindfulness, breathwork, narrative repair, and parts-based understanding of protectors and coping strategies—without overselling outcomes. Themes include: Breath as spiritus: a practical bridge between physiology and meaning Why “autopilot” keeps people stuck, and how...

You don’t need a more disciplined mindset. You need a safer internal operating system. A freak accident put Jim Pehkonen in a moment where he was sure he was dying. What surprised him wasn’t fear. It was peace. And when he came back, the work he’d been doing for decades around trauma, family systems, and resilience started to shift direction. This episode follows that shift and lands on a theme th...

Since 2001, far more veterans have been lost at home than on the battlefield. It’s time we start talking about what healing really means. On this week's Alternative Flight Plan, Dr. Kristin Barnes sits down with former Marine Gary P. Hess, who found his way out of deep trauma through intentional plant medicine, breathwork, and community support. Today, Gary leads Warrior Tribe Assembly and VAH...

Trauma doesn’t just disrupt the body—it can disrupt meaning. Signals arrive without context. Sensations don’t add up. What once felt intuitive becomes confusing, even alien. In this episode, Christine Ruch offers a grounded framework for understanding why this happens and where healing often needs to begin: the nervous system . When the nervous system is locked into protection, the body can speak...

In this powerful episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin Barnes welcomes Dr. Holly Christy—naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist, and founder of The Bridge Back Project—for a fascinating look into the world of fascial counterstrain, an emerging hands-on therapy changing how we understand chronic pain, trauma, and healing. Dr. Christy shares insights from her recently publishe...

When you’ve tried everything and the system still fails you—what’s next? In this deeply moving episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin Barnes sits down with Angela Skudin, founder and CEO of The Case Skudin 343 Fund, to explore healing beyond the conventional. Angela shares her powerful personal story of chronic illness, medical gaslighting, and finally finding relief thro...

In this insightful episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, Dr. Kristin Barnes welcomes Dr. Sandra Scheinbaum, a pioneering clinical psychologist and founder. Together, they explore how small daily habits and mindset shifts can profoundly influence our health, emphasizing that our destiny isn’t solely determined by genetics. Dr. Sandra shares her journey from traditional psychology to integ...

Welcome to the Alternative Flight Plan Podcast hosted by Kristin Barnes! In this enlightening episode, Kristin sits down with Dr. Erica Zelfand, a renowned naturopathic doctor from Oregon, to explore the powerful intersection between science and soul in medicine. They delve into how alternative modalities, including psychedelic medicine, can bring a deeper, more holistic approach to healing—bridgi...

In this compelling episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, Dr. Kristin Barnes sits down with Dan Gurley, a fellow Tomcat aviator and trauma-informed life coach, to explore the complex journey of healing from trauma and integrating life after military service. Dan shares his personal story of navigating childhood trauma, the impact of complex PTSD, and how he’s found purpose in coaching oth...

What happens when modern healthcare isn’t enough—and a new paradigm is waiting in the wings? On this episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin Barnes welcomes Dr. Ryan Phillips, a naturopathic doctor, certified psychedelic-assisted therapy provider, and board-certified biofeedback expert. Together, they take flight into a powerful conversation on integrative mental health, p...

What does it take to survive the fastest ejection in Naval aviation history—and rise again with purpose? In this powerful episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin Barnes welcomes former Navy F-18 pilot and bestselling author Kegan “Smurf” Gill. After ejecting at nearly the speed of sound, Kegan endured catastrophic injuries, a long and painful recovery, misdiagnoses, and me...

In this powerful new episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin Barnes sits down with Dr. Clarence Cutsforth, founder of Mon Sana, to talk about transforming trauma, healing from addiction, and the science of functional medicine. Dr. Cutsforth shares his inspiring journey from Army veteran to leading holistic health expert, and how Mon Sana was created to support veterans, fi...

In the latest episode of the Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, Dr. Kristin Barnes welcomes Matthew "Whiz" Buckley, CEO of No Fallen Heroes, to discuss the urgent need for alternative mental health solutions for veterans. Whiz shares his transformative experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapies, emphasizing the significant role they can play in addressing PTSD and trauma in the veteran communit...

Can healing really happen outside the traditional medical system? On this powerful episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin Barnes welcomes Dr. Jill Richards, Doctor of Acupuncture and founder of Catalysis Acupuncture in Bend, Oregon. With deep experience treating both veterans and civilians, Dr. Richards opens up about the connection between trauma, nervous system dysregul...

In the very first episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin "Rosie" Barnes takes off on a transformative conversation with Dr. Brianna Cardenas, a Physician Assistant and complex illness specialist. Dr. Cardenas shares her powerful journey through nearly two decades of personal health struggles, her challenges with the medical system, and how she now helps others heal using...