Root To Rise

What if understanding healing starts with understanding the body's own capacity for change? In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal welcomes back Dr. Sean Drake to explore energy—from cellular processes to our everyday experience of vitality, movement, and connection. Together, they unpack the idea that "you are the modality," exploring how breath, movement, and nervous system awarenes...

What if bone health deserves a bigger place in the longevity conversation? In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily welcomes Rebekah Rotstein, founder of Buff Bones®, to explore bone health beyond the density score. Together, they discuss strength, balance, movement, and the importance of building confidence in your body as you age. From osteoporosis to the connection between feet and whole-body...

Foot pain isn't always a sign of weakness. Sometimes, it's a sign that your foot is being asked to handle more load than it currently has the capacity to manage. In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal breaks down the concept of the overloaded arch and why strengthening alone may not be the answer.  Dr Emily explores how repetitive stress, footwear, movement patterns, tissue capacity,...

What really goes into bringing a movie like Stupid Shoes to life? In this episode, I sit down with Dee Libine the producer of Stupid Shoes for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the making of the film, the story that inspired it, the challenges of production, and what it takes to turn an idea into a finished movie. We talk about the creative process, memorable moments from the set, the people...

What if one simple exercise could change the way you connect to your feet, stabilize your arch, and build a stronger foundation for movement? In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal breaks down one of the most important exercises she teaches: Short Foot. More than an arch-strengthening exercise, Short Foot is about learning how to create tension and stability through the intrinsic musc...

What if chronic pain isn't the problem—but the body's request for change? In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal sits down with Dr. Perry Nickelston, internationally recognized as The Lymph Doc, to explore why true healing begins long before symptoms appear. Together, they unpack the remarkable connection between the lymphatic system, fascia, breath, movement, and the nervous system,...

More than 20 million Americans are living with peripheral neuropathy, yet most conversations focus on what has been lost—lost sensation, lost balance, and damaged nerves. But what if the story doesn't end there? In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr Emily Splichal explores the emerging science of peripheral neuroplasticity—the remarkable ability of the peripheral nervous system and the brain to adap...

Every step you take doubles the energy your body puts into the ground — and fascia is the tissue that makes it possible. In this solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal breaks down how to build fascial resiliency and why collagen, the structural protein behind your entire connective tissue web, is central to movement longevity. She walks through the science of the catapult effect, the three features ever...

What if anxiety, low mood, brain fog, and poor focus are not simply mental health conditions—but signals that your brain is missing the nutrients it needs to function optimally? In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal is joined by functional nutrition therapy practitioner Laurie Hammer for an eye-opening conversation about the relationship between amino acids, neurotransmitters, and br...

The plantar fascia is far more than a passive arch support—it's a dynamic tissue that helps your foot absorb, store, and return energy with every step. In this solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal explores the anatomy and function of the plantar fascia, explaining its three bands, layered structure, and connection to the Achilles tendon. She discusses how the foot transitions from a mobile shock absor...

Body awareness isn't just mindfulness — it's a physical skill your nervous system uses with every single step, and most people lose it as they age. In this episode, Dr. Emily Splichal sits down with Joshua Holland author of The Awareness Shift and a movement educator known for his work in the barefoot and natural movement space, including his connection to Vivo Barefoot. Together they unpack body...

Your foot was not designed to be passive. It was engineered — with precision — for bipedalism, sensory integration, and the kind of movement longevity most people don't even know they are losing. In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal takes a deep dive into the anatomy and biomechanics of the human foot, exploring exactly why it is so uniquely built for walking. She breaks down the pl...

Walking speed is one of the most powerful biomarkers of longevity — and it depends entirely on what is happening from the ground up. In this solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal unpacks five categories of age-related foot changes that every movement professional and health-conscious individual needs to understand: joint mobility, muscle strength, fascia and collagen, peripheral nerve function, and ski...

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal sits down with Sue Hitzmann, creator of the MELT Method and a global pioneer in fascia-focused self-care. Together, they explore the powerful intersection between fascia, sensory input, and nervous system regulation — and why sustainable movement must begin beneath the surface. This conversation goes beyond biomechanics. It's about resilience, ad...

In this in-depth solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal tackles one of the most misunderstood topics in foot health: flat feet. Rather than treating flat feet as a single condition, Dr. Emily explains why the term itself is misleading and why understanding pronation, stability, timing, and foot type is essential for preventing pain and improving long-term movement health. You'll learn how foot mechanics...

In this solo episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal unpacks one of the most misunderstood foot conditions — bunions — and reframes the conversation around what truly matters: big toe mobility and how we walk. Rather than focusing only on the bunion "bump," Dr. Emily explains why the big toe is a critical driver of propulsion, glute activation, joint health, and longevity. You'll learn how lim...

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal is joined by Danielle Kalmbach, wellness entrepreneur and founder of JOLT PEMF Lab, a modern recovery and performance studio specializing in Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy. Danielle's work sits at the intersection of nervous system regulation, recovery science, and performance culture. Through JOLT, she is redefining PEMF not as a pa...

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal is joined by Jaime Passaglia, pediatric physical therapist and Chief Health Strategy & Clinical Officer of Solodome, to explore how immersive spatial audio and vibroacoustic technology support nervous system regulation, recovery, and whole-body wellness. Together, they discuss how sound and vibration influence physiology, where vibroacoustic ther...

In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Emily Splichal dives into a topic rarely discussed — yet deeply felt by millions of women: how female hormones shape foot health across every stage of life. From the menstrual cycle to pregnancy and menopause, hormonal shifts profoundly influence collagen, ligament integrity, bone density, circulation, and nerve health — all of which directly impact how your feet...

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal sits down with Bill Parisi — legendary coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Parisi Speed School and the Fascia Training Academy — to explore what it truly means to build resilient, high-performing athletes for the long term. With over 30 years of experience and more than one million athletes coached, Bill shares how his work bridges science, coach...

In this episode, Dr. Emily welcomes Dr. Sean Drake — chiropractor, performance innovator, and educator — for a deep dive into the future of energy medicine and human performance. Dr. Sean's work blends PEMF, photobiomodulation, breathwork, movement, vibroacoustics, and nervous-system regulation to help people recover faster, move better, and perform at their highest potential. Together, they unpac...

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 micr...

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 l...

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, ProPuls...

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 convers...