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

Our guest today is Dr. Mandeep Johal, D.M.D., a biological dentist based in Ontario who believes that whole-body wellness begins in the mouth. With a unique integrative approach, Dr. Johal explores the connections between oral health, airway function, breathing, nutrition, posture, and the nervous system.

With extensive training in airway-focused orthodontics, tongue-tie treatment, sleep apnea care, and the dental–postural connection, she is helping redefine what it means to care for oral health—not just treating the teeth, but supporting the entire body.

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

• Why airway health is the foundation of breathing, energy, and performance
• Common airway dysfunctions that often go undetected
• The surprising impact of nasal breathing on health, sleep, and athletic recovery
• The foot-to-core-to-airway connection—how posture and movement patterns influence the way we breathe
• How oral health, sleep, and nervous system regulation are deeply intertwined
• Simple, practical breathing practices you can start using today to improve airway function and resilience

Whether you're a parent curious about your child's development, an athlete looking to optimize performance, or someone navigating sleep or stress challenges, this episode offers powerful insights on how breath and body are inseparably connected.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Dr. Mandeep Johal: https://www.mandeepjohal.com/
• Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal: https://dremilysplichal.com/

In this episode, I'm joined by two powerhouse women on a mission to help people heal, grow, and unlock their full potential—Melissa Deally, award-winning podcaster and integrative health practitioner, and Billie Aadmi, CEO of Go Mindspire, a former police officer turned mindset coach, and an international real estate investor.

In our conversation, Melissa and Billie share eye-opening insights into how our bodies and minds work—and how we can begin to reprogram ourselves for greater health, resilience, and success.

• The Three Minds & Four Bodies – Why we're more than just a physical body, how the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual bodies interact, and how the three minds (conscious, unconscious, and higher) shape the way we think, heal, and perform.
• Unconscious vs. Conscious Mind – Why Melissa and Billie use the term unconsciousinstead of subconscious, how much of our daily decision-making happens unconsciously, and the simple ways we can start becoming aware of—and shifting—our thought patterns.
• Reprogramming Old Beliefs – How the unconscious mind stores patterns, how those patterns hold us back, and what tools we can use to clear limiting beliefs, overcome fear, and create lasting change.
• About the Guests

Melissa Deally – Award-winning podcaster (Don't Wait for Your Wake Up Call!), NLP Trainer, Integrative Health Coach, and internationally recognized speaker helping people heal body, mind, and spirit.

Together – They co-founded Amplify Impact Academy, a board-certified training platform equipping coaches and professionals with the tools to transform lives on a deeper level.

Website: https://amplifyimpactacademy.com/home

Instagram: @amplifyimpactacademy; @go.mindspire; @guidedhealthjourney

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Edwardes—coach, athlete, author, and founder of Parkour Generations—to explore the intersection of movement, mindset, and human potential. A pioneer in the world of parkour and personal development, Dan has spent decades teaching people around the globe how to harness the power of movement not only for physical growth but also for emotional resilience and self-discovery.

From the science of flow states to overcoming fear and the urgent need to revive physical literacy in children, Dan shares insights and practical tools that can transform how we move, learn, and live.

• The Flow State – What it is, how to access it, and why flow is essential for growth and peak performance.
• Breaking the Jump & Managing Fear – Dan's five-step process for overcoming obstacles, and how facing fear in movement translates to resilience in everyday life.
• The Decline of Physical Literacy in Children – Why kids today are moving less than ever, and how Dan is working to reverse this trend through parkour education and youth programs.

Dan Edwardes is the founder of Parkour Generations, the world's leading authority on parkour education, and a key figure in establishing Parkour UK, the first governing body for the discipline. A lifelong martial artist turned parkour pioneer, he's now an international coach, speaker, and author dedicated to helping people unlock their potential through movement, mindset, and the mastery of risk.

Websites: https://danedwardes.com/; https://parkourgenerations.com/

Instagram: @parkourgenerations; @dan_edwardes

What if recovery doesn't start with muscles—but with sensation?

In this episode of Root to Rise, Dr. Emily Splichal shares her groundbreaking approach to neuro rehab by focusing on the overlooked power of sensory stimulation. From the eyes to the skin, she explains how engaging multiple sensory systems can reawaken the brain, accelerate recovery, and reshape motor patterns. Through powerful patient stories—including a spinal cord injury survivor walking again—Dr. Splichal reveals how "sensory stacking" transforms healing.

Key themes explored:

• How sensory input shapes motor recovery
• The four sensory systems that unlock neuroplasticity
• Practical tools for patients, athletes, and active agers
  
  

Recovery is more than movement—it begins with sensation. Tune in and discover how to wake up the brain and unlock lasting progress.

👣 Connect with Dr. Emily Splichal:
Instagram: @thefunctionalfootdoc
YouTube: The Functional Foot Doc

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