Podcast Description:

Dr. Lisa Poole is an 18-year licensed acupuncturist, single parent, MBA graduate, and one of the most honest voices in the profession. After nearly two decades in practice, she's transitioning out of full-time clinical work — not because she wanted to, but because the financial reality of this profession simply doesn't add up for most practitioners.

In this episode, David and Lisa have the conversation the acupuncture profession keeps avoiding.

What we cover:

The 2005–2006 removal of bankruptcy protections for student loans — and how it caused tuitions to immediately double and triple across the country. Why student loan attorneys consistently identify naturopaths and acupuncturists as the hardest-hit professions in the United States. What borrower's defense is and why Lisa believes every acupuncturist with federal student loans has a legitimate case. The debt-to-income data showing most acupuncture schools are charging 400–700% of what the career can actually support. Why schools bear direct responsibility for never building career pathways into hospitals and medical clinics. What real advocacy looks like — from getting acupuncture added as an essential benefit in Oregon to nearly two decades of federal student loan reform work.

And where the real hope lives — because patient demand has never been higher, and the medicine isn't going anywhere.

This one is honest, grounded, and worth your time whether you're in practice, considering school, or just trying to understand why such a powerful medicine is struggling to survive.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Acupuncture
• 15:00 Challenges in the Acupuncture Profession
• 23:11 Advocacy and Legislative Efforts
• 30:53 Community Engagement and Advocacy
• 40:36 Hope and Resilience

The Esoteric Medicine of Acupuncture — What TCM Schools Don't Teach | Parallel Perception Podcast

Is acupuncture losing its soul trying to earn a seat at Western medicine's table?

In this episode, David Bernard sits down with spiritual teacher and author Lujan Matus and veteran acupuncturist Dr. Christopher Butler (35+ years in practice) to explore what gets stripped away when Traditional Chinese Medicine shrinks itself to fit the allopathic model — and what it actually means to be a true healer.

They go deep on why the best practitioners are often those who've suffered most, what yin and yang really mean (they're relational, not fixed), how the Dan Tian and fascia connect to consciousness and healing, the emotional roots of illness before it becomes physical, and why holding space for a patient matters more than the needles.

One of the most powerful moments: Lujan reframing the needle entirely — you don't send your Qi into someone. The obstruction pulls you in. You empty yourself. The body does the rest.

If you've ever felt like the medicine you were taught was only half the picture, this one is for you.

🌐 parallelperception.com 🌐 drchristopherbutler.com

The conversation covers the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with cannabis and CBD, emphasizing the need for education, regulation, and safety in the industry. The guests, Dr. Chloe Weber and Dr. Lauren Manuni, discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field, highlighting the importance of informed decision-making and responsible use of cannabis products.

Takeaways

• TCM and cannabis integration
• Importance of education and regulation in the cannabis industry

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
• 19:23 Safety and Regulation in the Cannabis Industry
• 43:34 The Role of Budtenders and Education

visit https://radicalrootsherbs.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmjoy/ to connect with Chloe and Lauren