The Vitalist
The Vitalist
Podcast Description
Welcome to The Vitalist Podcast, where we take a vitalistic-powered approach to optimal living. This is your space to gain transformative knowledge, deepen your mind-body connection, and awaken your human spirit.
Join us as we explore the art and science of healing through thought-provoking conversations with practitioners, scientists, creatives, and visionaries. Driven by awe and wonder, we deepen the conversation around health and healing. Here, we believe human beings are healable, thrivable, and adaptable.
Our mission is to provide a vitalistic framework to help you reconnect with your innate healing potential, embrace the wisdom of your body, and trust the process of life’s challenges. Whether you’re seeking to enhance your well-being, or embrace a deeper perspective on healing, our mission is to help you experience moments of profound discovery that change how you see yourself and the world.
The Vitalist Podcast invites you to slow down, be moved by beautiful questions, and live like a true vitalist.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast emphasizes healing and personal growth, covering themes like resilience, self-discovery, and the science of well-being with episodes like 'From Setback to Strength' featuring Coach Dar, who explores mental fortitude and the journey of overcoming life's adversities.
Welcome to The Vitalist Podcast, where we take a vitalistic-powered approach to optimal living. This is your space to gain transformative knowledge, deepen your mind-body connection, and awaken your human spirit.
Join us as we explore the art and science of healing through thought-provoking conversations with practitioners, scientists, creatives, and visionaries. Driven by awe and wonder, we deepen the conversation around health and healing. Here, we believe human beings are healable, thrivable, and adaptable.
Our mission is to provide a vitalistic framework to help you reconnect with your innate healing potential, embrace the wisdom of your body, and trust the process of life’s challenges. Whether you’re seeking to enhance your well-being, or embrace a deeper perspective on healing, our mission is to help you experience moments of profound discovery that change how you see yourself and the world.
The Vitalist Podcast invites you to slow down, be moved by beautiful questions, and live like a true vitalist.
Your feet aren’t just for walking, they’re the foundation of your posture, your performance, and even your longevity. In this episode, Dr. Emily Splichal, functional podiatrist, barefoot science expert, and founder of Naboso, breaks down the overlooked role of the feet in whole-body healing.
You’ll learn why 10 seconds of single-leg balance predicts your lifespan, how foot posture impacts your spine and pelvis, and why the way you’re walking might be limiting your mobility, stability, and overall strength.
We dive into:
The $0 exercise Dr. Emily gives all her patients
How your feet connect to your pelvic floor (and your tongue) via fascia
The real reason your shoes might be making you stiffer and slower
Why walking isn’t cardio, it’s a neurological tune-up
How movement accuracy, sensory input, and foot mechanics unlock true mobility
Whether you’re healing chronic tension, chasing performance, or aging with vitality, this conversation will change how you move through the world, one step at a time.
HIGHLIGHTS:
When fitness and New York were non-negotiable, podiatry became Dr. Emily’s only option (1:19)
Why she quit surgical residency to get her masters in human movement from A.T. Still. (3:35)
Our foot posture will mechanically dictate how the rest of our body will align. (5:24)
What happens to our posture when we don’t have a stable foundation in our feet. (5:47)
How a flat foot is associated with slower stability in the pelvis and low back, increasing the risk of injury in the low back. (6:14)
Dr. Emily reveals what makes a sprinter fast. (7:21)
Everyone is born with flat feet. The key question: at what point does it impair movement? And what’s the real difference between overpronation and structural collapse? (8:13)
Dr. Emily discusses how she works with children knowing “It takes until the age of 7 to develop an adult arch.” (8:58)
Pediatricians often get this wrong saying “All children will grow out of their flat feet.” Here’s how this isn’t true. (9:28)
The root cause of bunions is not genetics, it is midfoot ligament laxity. (9:45)
Her unique, full body approach to treating bunions. (10:51)
Your feet are sensory in nature, think “eyes to the ground”, feeding your brain constant information to calibrate balance, posture, and performance in real time. (12:09)
Every step you take sends vibrational information through your body. On natural surfaces, it’s resonance; on concrete, it’s distortion. (13:09)
Elite indoor tracks are tuned to the body’s optimal frequency, making world records possible. (14:10)
The truth about shoes: Every footstrike is a vibration; cushioned shoes mute it. And when your brain receives incomplete feedback, your movement becomes less accurate, less efficient, and more injury-prone. (14:54)
Three facets of movement Dr. Emily uses when working with athletes: Movement Longevity, Movement Accuracy, and Movement Efficiency. (16:37)
How to use tools, such as weighted blankets and the Naboso mat, to improve spatial awareness, speed up recovery, and improve balance.(17:22)
What is body schema and how is different than proprioception. (18:25)
How concussions break down our body schema. (19:24)
A sensory exercise to train body schema, upgrading your internal map to reduce falls and improve balance. (22:00)
How your feet are connected to the pelvic floor. (23:35)
The pelvic floor activation Dr. Emily gives all her patients using your toes and breath. (24:59)
The longevity markers no one talks about: walking pace and single leg stability. (27:22)
The benefits of walking at a fast enough pace. (28:01)
Walking isn’t supposed to be cardio, it is designed to nourish your nervous system. (28:44)
Most people walk with muscles, not fascia. True efficiency requires mobility in your big toe, ankle, pelvis, and spine. (29:26)
How to know if you’re walking efficiently. (30:32)
The importance of walking at your unique pace. (32:01)
If your low back hurts after walking, it’s not overuse. It’s a sign your skeleton can’t keep up with your natural pace. (32:54)
Dr. Emily’s new book “Sensory Sapiens” shares how sensory based movement unlocks longevity. (33:56)
Want to wake up your nervous system? Naboso’s textured insoles and mats stimulate mechanoreceptors for better balance, strength, and brain-body precision. (34:30)
Resources:
Youtube: Dr. Emily Splichal
Naboso.com Use code VITALIST for 10% off your order
Youtube: Naboso
Dr. Emily’s latest book: Sensory Sapiens
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