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Conversations with a Chiropractor

Conversations with a Chiropractor

Written by: Stephanie Wautier
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 Conversations with a Chiropractor is a podcast hosted by Dr. Stephanie Wautier, designed to explore the journey to health, healing, and personal growth through chiropractic care and beyond. Each episode dives into inspiring stories of resilience, wellness, and overcoming adversity, featuring diverse guests who share their unique experiences. Whether discussing holistic health, mental wellness, or life-changing events, this podcast offers heartfelt conversations that empower listeners to embrace wellness and transformation in every aspect of life. Join the journey toward better health, one conversation at a time.2024 Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • California to the UP: Valerie Whiteman on Community, Courage, and Full-Circle Life | Conversations with a Chiropractor

    California to the UP: Valerie Whiteman on Community, Courage, and Full-Circle Life | Conversations with a Chiropractor
    Feb 18 2026
    California to the UP: Valerie Whiteman on Community, Courage, and Full-Circle Life | Conversations with a Chiropractor Episode Description In this warm, funny, and surprisingly moving episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier is joined by Valerie Whiteman, the familiar face and steady presence so many patients recognize the moment they walk through the door. Valerie is the kind of person strangers tell their life story to in the banana aisle, and in this conversation, you'll understand exactly why. They start with a detail most people don't know: Valerie once won a game show. Not "kind of" won, actually won, walking away with $8,000 in 1986 and a story that still feels unreal. From there, the episode opens up into Valerie's roots, including the family history that runs from England to Montreal to California, and the adventurous streak she clearly inherited. Valerie also shares the harder chapters: losing her dad at four, moving in with her grandparents, and being shaped by the kind of quiet love that changes your whole trajectory. And then, in a twist that surprises a lot of people who know her today, she talks about going through the police academy and serving as an officer in Southern California, including what she saw, what stayed with her, and how she learned to de-escalate with words. The conversation lands right where it started: real-life connection. Valerie's mom "Grandma Betty" became part of Stephanie's family story, and the two reflect on the weird beauty of time, how life cycles around, and what it means to treat people the way you'd want to be treated. If you like episodes that feel like a front-porch chat with actual depth, this one sticks. 🎧 In This Episode, Discover: The behind-the-scenes story of Valerie winning Card Sharks and what that money meant in 1986 Valerie's family roots from England to Montreal to California, including a candy shop chapter How early loss shaped her, and how her grandparents became a foundation What it was like to live in Hawaii, immerse in Polynesian culture, and carry that experience forward The surprising chapter: police academy, gang detail, and what law enforcement taught her about people Why Valerie's superpower is de-escalation, intuition, and making others feel safe How she landed in the UP, built a family, and became part of the Wautier Wellness "home base" The full-circle story of how Valerie and Dr. Stephanie met, and why it still matters 19 years later What gives Valerie the most joy now, and why family hits different as you get older Stay Connected & Explore Connect with Conversations with a Chiropractor: Follow Us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness Email for Show-Related Inquiries and Sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com Credits: Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com. Chapters 00:00 Intro and why this show is more "fireside chat" than how-to 00:41 Meet Valerie Whiteman, the face everyone knows at the front desk 01:10 The secret story: Valerie won a game show 02:10 Card Sharks, auditions, and the "game of chance" reality 03:05 What $8,000 meant in 1986 and what she did with it 03:45 Family roots: England to Montreal to California 04:30 A candy shop in Montreal and a mother's adventurous bus trip 05:45 Grandma Betty, Stephanie's kids, and why Valerie's mom mattered so much 07:05 Why people tell Valerie everything, everywhere 08:15 Mattel, early Barbie-era stories, and being a "toy tester" 09:30 Valerie's dad, family history, and losing him at four 11:10 Living with grandparents and being shaped by quiet love 12:20 Hawaii, culture, and learning through immersion 14:35 Police academy and serving as an officer in Southern California 16:10 De-escalation, being a woman in law enforcement, and using words to lower the temperature 18:20 Marriage, the Air Force, and moving to the UP 19:35 Building a life in Gwinn, raising three daughters, and the gift of small-town community 21:05 Grandkids, time moving too fast, and full-circle reflections 24:10 How Valerie and Dr. Stephanie met, and why their story feels stitched together on purpose 26:00 Closing thoughts on purpose, people, and treating others well
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    27 mins
  • Nervous System 101: What Chiropractic Really Does and How to "Reset" Stress Response | Conversations with a Chiropractor

    Nervous System 101: What Chiropractic Really Does and How to "Reset" Stress Response | Conversations with a Chiropractor
    Feb 11 2026
    Nervous System 101: What Chiropractic Really Does and How to "Reset" Stress Response | Conversations with a Chiropractor Episode Description

    In this solo episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier tackles a question that still floats around out there: is chiropractic "scientific," and what does it really have to do with stress relief? It starts with a surprising grocery store comment and turns into a clear, practical breakdown of the nervous system, what chiropractors are actually assessing, and why the spine matters for both the central and peripheral nervous system.

    Stephanie explains the difference between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the network of nerves leaving the spinal cord), then zooms in on the autonomic nervous system, the part most people are talking about when they say "fight or flight" and "rest and digest." She also clears up a common misconception: every chiropractor is working with the nervous system, regardless of technique, because the goal is the same, reduce interference and restore communication.

    From there, this episode turns into a toolkit. You'll hear simple, doable ways to support a stressed-out system, including breathing patterns that cue safety, sensory grounding, rhythmic movement, vagus nerve stimulators like humming and gargling, and sleep habits that help your body actually power down at night.

    🎧 In This Episode, Discover

    • Why "nervous system health" usually means the autonomic nervous system, not the whole nervous system

    • The difference between central vs peripheral, and somatic vs autonomic function

    • Why chiropractic is about communication, not "chasing pain"

    • What "fight or flight" is designed for, and why modern life keeps it stuck on

    • Simple ways to support regulation: breathwork, rhythm, grounding, sleep cues, and naming emotions

    • Easy vagus nerve activators you can do anywhere (yes, even humming in your car)

    Stay Connected & Explore

    Connect with Conversations with a Chiropractor:
    Follow Us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro
    Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness
    Email for Show-Related Inquiries and Sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com

    Credits:
    Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor
    00:48 The Nervous System and Chiropractic
    02:12 Understanding the Nervous System
    02:54 Autonomic Nervous System Explained
    05:17 Balancing the Nervous System
    07:17 Choosing the Right Chiropractor
    09:21 Supporting Your Nervous System
    10:00 Breathing Techniques for Nervous System Health
    11:15 Grounding and Vagus Nerve Stimulation
    11:54 Preparing for Restful Sleep
    12:47 Final Thoughts and Closing
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    15 mins
  • Beyond Pain to Purpose: Pastor Mike Walter on Ankylosing Spondylitis and Building PPIKids | Conversations with a Chiropractor

    Beyond Pain to Purpose: Pastor Mike Walter on Ankylosing Spondylitis and Building PPIKids | Conversations with a Chiropractor
    Dec 17 2025
    Beyond Pain to Purpose: Pastor Mike Walter on Ankylosing Spondylitis and Building PPIKids | Conversations with a Chiropractor

    In this episode of Conversations with a Chiropractor, Dr. Stephanie Wautier sits down with local Marquette pastor Mike Walter for a conversation that moves from the most personal kind of struggle to the most practical kind of impact.

    Pastor Mike opens up about being diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis early in life, what it's like to carry an "incurable" label into adulthood, and the daily choices that became non-negotiable as he worked to stay functional, present, and hopeful. He also talks candidly about faith when the pain does not go away, the difference between knowing the right answers and actually living them, and how internal battles can show up even in people who look steady from the outside.

    Then the conversation widens. Pastor Mike shares the story behind Prodigal Preacher International, including the moments and relationships that pulled him toward refugee support, safety for girls, school sponsorship, and hunger prevention work in East Africa. You'll hear what small donations actually do, why recurring giving matters, and how transparent, consistent support can turn into real protection and education for kids who need it most.

    If you've ever wondered how someone keeps going with chronic pain, or how to make generosity feel real instead of abstract, this one lands.

    🎧 In This Episode, Discover:

    • Pastor Mike's early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis and what helped him cope day to day

    • The ways pain and faith collide, and what he learned in the hard seasons

    • His journey to becoming a pastor, including seminary life and the road that shaped him

    • How his connection to African culture began and why it became personal

    • The danger and fear along the border, and the harsh realities of trafficking

    • Real success stories, including refugees who went on to graduate college

    • How PPI supports safety and education for girls, plus feeding programs that meet basic needs

    • Why "small" donations can create outsized impact, especially through Giving Tuesday matches

    • How to help, and what transparency looks like when you give

    Stay Connected & Explore:

    Support Pastor Mike Walter's Work (Prodigal Preacher International / PPIKids):
    PPI Website: https://www.ppikids.org/
    Donate (one-time or monthly): https://www.ppikids.org/donate
    PPI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ppikids.org/

    Connect with Conversations with a Chiropractor:
    Follow Us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ConversationswithaChiro
    Follow Dr. Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wautierwellness
    Email for Show-Related Inquiries and Sponsorships: drstephaniewautier@yahoo.com

    Credits:
    Podcast production by Brand|Sound. Start your podcast journey by emailing brandsoundpodcasts@gmail.com.

    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction to Conversations with a Chiropractor
    00:41 Mike's Early Life and Diagnosis
    01:55 Coping with Ankylosing Spondylitis
    04:17 Faith and Personal Struggles
    05:52 Journey to Becoming a Pastor
    07:30 Life in Colorado and Seminary Experiences
    13:10 Connection to African Culture
    20:03 The Danger and Fear Along the Border
    20:27 Success Stories: From Refugee to College Graduate
    21:21 The Harsh Realities of Human Trafficking
    21:42 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Africa
    22:27 Providing Safety and Education for Girls
    23:49 The Impact of Small Donations
    26:26 The Power of Giving Tuesday
    27:44 How to Help: Education and Feeding Programs
    30:41 Personal Commitment and Transparency
    34:41 The Emotional Burden and Call to Action
    36:14 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
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    38 mins
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