The Next Wave of Chiropractic Evidence: Dr. Kelly Holt on AI-Driven Insights
Dr. Don sits down with Dr. Kelly Holt, the president of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, to explore his transformative journey in chiropractic education during the COVID-19 pandemic. We talk about into the innovative integration of wearables and data-driven approaches in chiropractic care, enhancing patient outcomes and community impact. Additionally, we highlight the inspiring story of a chiropractic outreach program in Rarotonga and discuss the upcoming lyceum event in Calgary, focusing on research and innovation in the field.
In this episode:
Why strategic pivots were necessary to maintain educational standards amid pandemic lockdowns.
How the college prepares students for effective communication in a post-pandemic world.
Why integrating wearables and practice-based data is transforming chiropractic care.
How tracking health markers like heart rate variability enhances patient outcomes.
Why data-driven approaches boost credibility and confidence in new chiropractors.
How the chiropractic outreach program in Rarotonga transformed over 2,500 locals' lives.
Why community outreach initiatives benefit both students and local communities.
Why supporting the New Zealand College of Chiropractic's Research Foundation is crucial to Dr. Holt.
How modern chiropractic practices incorporate polyvagal theory for improved nervous system regulation.
How strategic planning during COVID-19 positioned the college for post-pandemic growth.
Why increasing chiropractic care utilization in New Zealand is a focus for the college.
How research advancements at the college are poised to change the chiropractic narrative.
The Informed Chiropractor Super Conference — Toronto, Dec 6: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/toronto
Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist: https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor
Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
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26:29
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26:29
Prune. Focus. Regulate: A Polyvagal Fall Reset for Your Chiropractic Practice
After a short summer hiatus, Dr. Don MacDonald returns with a nervous-system-forward reset for the season. We unpack how to balance predictability without stagnation, why co-regulation is your real growth engine, and how to prune distractions so your adjusting gets more focused, consistent, and effective.
What you’ll learn
Why “boring consistency” (predictable, regulated presence) builds trust and retention
How polyvagal theory explains connection vs. “going through the motions”
A fall reset playbook: from unstructured summer to clear routines
Pruning non-essentials to free up focus and volume
Training a new grad/locum while preserving flow, priorities, and connection
Practical co-regulation cues you can use table-side—no scripts
Chapters
0:00 -1:00 Welcome back & why we pause in summer
1:11 -1:20 Predictability vs. stagnation (polyvagal lens)
2:30 -3:50 Seasonal reset: routines, families, and stressors
7:49 - 8:00 Pruning distractions to sharpen adjusting
8:40 - 9:10 Training the new chiropractor & maintaining connection
10:54 - 11:50 September game plan + what’s coming next including "Healing the Chiropractor"
Upcoming on the podcast
Dr. Kelly Holt (New Zealand College of Chiropractic): research & AI in chiropractic
Dr. Peter Amlinger: philosophy + nervous-system-forward practice (Toronto Super Conference)
Links & resources
The Informed Chiropractor Super Conference — Toronto, Dec 6:
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/toronto
Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist:
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/the-informed-chiropractor
Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):
https://www.theinformedchiropractor.com/introduction-to-chiropractic-through-a-polyvagal-lens
If this helped, share it with one chiropractor and follow/subscribe for weekly nervous-system-forward insights.
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11:57
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11:57
The Safety Sandwich: A Polyvagal Approach to Chiropractic Adjusting
In this solo episode, Dr. Don MacDonald talks about the powerful connections between chiropractic care, the nervous system, and the polyvagal theory. He shares insights from his recent events, including Level Two of the MacDonald Safety Corridor protocol. He explains how his approach continues to evolve through feedback from chiropractors in both North America and Australia.
Dr. Don explains that when babies are born, they cannot self-regulate. They rely on safe, consistent co-regulators, typically a parent, to help develop the part of the nervous system responsible for calmness, connection, and resilience. If someone never had this kind of safety growing up, they may struggle to regulate their nervous system as adults. Interesting right? Chiropractors can unknowingly become the first "safe human" a person encounters, and that has huge implications.
From this lens, he introduces the “Safety Sandwich,” a practical application of polyvagal theory in chiropractic. It’s not a technique on its own, but a way to enhance any technique by placing it inside a regulated, neurologically safe experience. The sandwich begins before the adjustment with tone, environment, posture, and presence, and ends after the thrust, with a calming decompression or breath-based close.
He talked about:
Your nervous system state changes patient outcomes. Stressed? Your "threat vibes" dilute adjustments.
Safety vs comfort zones. Push 5% beyond your comfort zone to grow, but stay regulated (like an athlete in "the zone").
He reminds listeners that the Macdonald Safety Corridor is continuously evolving based on practice experience and feedback from real chiropractors. There are more seminars ahead, including one in Amsterdam on September 6th and the Informed Chiropractor Super Conference in Toronto this December.
If you are curious about how the polyvagal theory directly supports and elevates chiropractic work, you can now access a free one-hour intro course on the homepage at theinformedchiropractor.com.
This episode is a powerful reminder that the body doesn’t just respond to what you do, it responds to how you do it. Go watch the video yourself. You will never look at adjusting the same way again.
Audio Timestamp
0:00 -1:12: Development of Co-Regulation and Ventral Vagal System
1:12 - 2:59: Introduction to the Podcast Episode
2:59 - 8:18: The Safety Sandwich and Polyvagal Theory
8:18 - 12:54: Advanced Techniques and Feedback from Chiropractors
12:54 - 14:36: Upcoming Events and Resources
14:36 - 19:10: Co-Regulation and Self-Regulation in Chiropractic Care
19:10 - 21:35: Safety vs. Comfort Zone
21:35 - 23:49: Final Thoughts and Encouragement
You can connect with us on other platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor
#ChiropracticCare #NervousSystemHealing #ChiropracticSuccess #PolyvagalTheory #Chiropractor #Chiropractors #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MindBodyConnection #Medicine #ChiropracticSuccess #ChiropracticCare #PracticeGrowth #ChiropracticMentorship #Pediatricchiropractor #burnout #early intervention. #Viral #Trending #Healthtalks #Healthpodcasts #Health #Healthinterviews #Trends
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23:48
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23:48
What Today’s Chiropractic Students Really Think and Why the Future Looks Bright
In this heartfelt and energizing episode of The Informed Chiropractor podcast, Dr. Don Macdonald reconnects with Kyla Butz, a former student intern in his practice and now a rising chiropractic leader preparing to graduate from Palmer College. What starts as a nostalgic catch-up quickly becomes a deep dive into the reality of chiropractic school today, the shift away from vitalism, and the importance of building community, skill, and purpose before stepping into practice.
Kyla shares what it’s really like inside the walls of Palmer, how she went from having zero chiropractic background to falling in love with the philosophy, and why she believes seminars, clubs, and mentorship are the secret weapons of chiropractic success.
We discussed:
How seminar culture is growing and transforming chiropractic education
Why early technique training gives students a huge advantage in clinic and post-grad
What it takes to develop leadership and confidence through adjusting clubs like KTC
How the polyvagal lens is helping students understand safety, tone, and true patient care
The power of safe environments from adjusting rooms to classroom culture
Real stories of mentorship that fuel the next generation of principled chiropractors
Whether you are a student chiropractor, a seasoned doc, or someone wondering what the future of this profession looks like, this episode will fill your tank.
Kyla’s story and experience proves that the next generation of chiropractors isn’t just ready... they are rising with heart, hands, and a vision that goes far beyond the spine.
Go watch the video yourself, this conversation will remind you why you fell in love with chiropractic in the first place.
Audio Timestamp
0:00 - 1:31: Seminars and Student Engagement
1:31 - 5:40: Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
5:40- 10:26: Kyla's Journey to Chiropractic School
10:26 - 14:22: Navigating Chiropractic School and Philosophy
14:22 - 18:30: Kairos Training Culture (KTC) and Personal Growth
18:30 - 20:32: The Importance of Seminars and Community
20:32 -22:51: Challenges and Opportunities in Chiropractic Education
22:51 - 23:05: Preparing for Practice and Future Goals
23:05 - 24:33: The Impact of Chiropractic Education on Personal Development
24:33 - 26:22: Experiences from Level One Seminar
26:22 - 28:41: Implementing Techniques in Practice
28:41 - 30:08: Winning a Scholarship from CNAC
30:08 - 32:08: Importance of Mentorship and Community
32:08 - 35:28: Final Words of Wisdom
You can connect with us on other platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor
#ChiropracticCare #NervousSystemHealing #ChiropracticSuccess #PolyvagalTheory #Chiropractor #Chiropractors #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MindBodyConnection #Medicine #ChiropracticSuccess #ChiropracticCare #PracticeGrowth #ChiropracticMentorship #Pediatricchiropractor #burnout #early intervention. #Viral #Trending #Healthtalks #Healthpodcasts #Health #Healthinterviews #Babycare
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35:27
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35:27
How to Attract More Chiropractic Patients Using Smart Video Content & Trust-Building Strategies
Are you a chiropractor trying to grow your practice but feel overwhelmed by marketing options? In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor, we diversified a little to help practice members, as we talked about modern strategies that actually bring new patients through your doors.
Joined by chiropractic marketing expert Billy Sticker, we explore how short-form video content, office tour videos, and simple FAQ-style reels can build trust and reduce the fear that keeps people from booking their first visit. We also connect this approach to the polyvagal theory, showing how creating a sense of neurological safety can make or break that first impression.
Here is a highlight or a sneak peek into what we talked about.
Why 40-second vertical videos outperform long intros (and how to make them)
How platforms like Facebook and Instagram use AI to get your content in front of your ideal patients
Why an office tour video can help ease the nervous system and increase show-up rates
The power of creating a pre-visit video library to shorten the report of findings and save your team time
How real chiropractors have grown from $30k/month to seven-figure practices with simple, authentic content
New AI tools that answer your phones, qualify leads, and even help you stay HIPAA-compliant
Why your content doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to show who you are
If you have ever asked, “How do I get more chiropractic patients through social media?” or “How do I use AI without losing my mind (or license)?” this episode is for you. With the world evolving, so must our practice too. Whether you are brand new to video or just need a better strategy, this conversation will inspire you to take the first step.
Go watch the episode yourself, and start building trust before a patient ever walks through your doors.
Ready to turn your clinic into a local sensation? Watch the full episode to see Billy’s AI hacks and video tricks in action, Your next viral reel is just one click away
Audio Timestamp
00:00 - 02:14: Introduction to the Informed Chiropractor Podcast
02:14 - 02:45: Billy Sticker's Background and Transition to Chiropractic Marketing
02:45 - 07:23: Evolution of Marketing Services Offered by Chiro Candy
07:23 - 09:14: Tips for Chiropractors on Social Media and Video Marketing
09:14 - 14:36:Advanced Marketing Strategies Using AI and Video
14:36 - 18:27: Differences Between Horizontal and Vertical Videos
18:27 - 21:56: Consistency and Relevance in Posting
21:56 - 23:03: Targeting and AI in Advertising
23:03 - 26:26: Types of Video Content for Chiropractors
26:26 - 28:37: Polyvagal Theory and Neurological Safety
28:37 - 34:06: Pre-Appointment Content and Patient Education
34:06 - 40:12: AI Tools and Automation in Practice
40:12 - 40:35: Balancing AI and Manual Processes
40:35 - 43:18: Chiropractic Marketing Strategies
43:18 - 45:11: Final Thoughts and Encouragement
You can connect with us on other platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinformedchiropractor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informed_chiropractor/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theInformedChiropractor
#ChiropracticCare #NervousSystemHealing #ChiropracticSuccess #PolyvagalTheory #Chiropractor #Chiropractors #ChronicIllnessWarrior #MindBodyConnection #Medicine #ChiropracticSuccess #ChiropracticCare #PracticeGrowth #ChiropracticMentorship #Pediatricchiropractor #burnout #early intervention. #Viral #Trending #Healthtalks #Healthpodcasts #Health #Healthinterviews #Engagement #Viral #Trends #Trendz
Welcome to The Informed Chiropractor, the go-to podcast for neurologically based chiropractors who are ready to make chiropractic relevant again. Hosted by Dr. Don MacDonald, a 26+ year chiropractor, speaker, and creator of the MacDonald Safety Corridor Protocol, this show blends vitalistic chiropractic principles with modern neuroscience through the lens of the Polyvagal Theory.
Every week, we explore how to shift from a mechanistic model to a salutogenic, nervous system-forward approach that fosters true regulation, coregulation, and healing. Whether you’re navigating burnout, refining your adjusting, or searching for a clearer way to communicate the value of chiropractic, this podcast is your home.
You’ll hear interviews with global experts, real talk from Dr. Don and Brandi MacDonald, and actionable tools to build a practice rooted in safety, interoception, and chiropractic certainty.
👉 If you’re a purpose-driven chiropractor who wants to lead with connection, adjust with clarity, and reclaim the art of healing, you’re in the right place.
Key themes covered:
Neurologically based chiropractic care
Chiropractic and the Polyvagal Theory
Creating safety and co-regulation in practice
Coregulation and the social engagement system
The salutogenic model of health
Interoception and the nervous system
Practice growth without burnout
Subscribe now and join thousands of chiropractors worldwide reimagining what’s possible through a nervous system forward practice.
Ireland