Your feet hit the ground thousands of times a day—yet most people treat them like fashion accessories instead of foundations.

Toe spacers. Barefoot shoes. Miracle insoles. Bunion fixes.

Social media has turned foot health into a trend—but pain, plantar fasciitis, bunions, and heel issues keep rising.

In this episode, we cut through the noise with Dr. Courtney Conley, one of the most trusted voices in foot health and human movement. We break down what’s actually supported by biomechanics and evidence—and what’s just well-marketed hope.

This is a practical, no-nonsense conversation for people who are active, successful, and quietly frustrated that their feet keep holding them back.

In this episode, we cover:

• How to spot foot health red flags that signal marketing—not real biomechanics
• Toe spacers: what they help, what they don’t, and how to use them safely
• Barefoot and minimalist shoes—who they help, who they hurt, and how to transition without injury
• Bunions: what can improve pain and function conservatively—and what usually won’t reverse
• Orthotics: when they’re smart, when they’re a distraction, and how to pair them with real foot strength
• Plantar fasciitis and heel pain: the highest-ROI strategies people overlook
• Heel spurs explained—and whether injections actually make sense
• Why walking is a longevity skill, and the 3 foot metrics that matter most for life

If foot pain has been limiting your workouts, your walking, or your confidence in movement, this episode will change how you think about your feet—and your shoes.

About the Guest

Dr. Courtney Conley is a foot and ankle specialist, educator, and co-founder of Gait Happens, a globally recognized foot health education platform. She specializes in biomechanics, gait analysis, injury prevention, and helping people build stronger, more resilient feet through evidence-based strategies. Dr. Conley is widely known for translating complex foot science into practical tools athletes, clinicians, and everyday people can actually use.

Learn more about Dr. Courtney Conley and her work:
https://gaithappens.com

We are two sports chiropractors, seeking knowledge from some of the best resources in the world of health. From our perspective, health is more than just “Crackin Backs” but a deep dive into physical, mental, and nutritional well-being philosophies.

Join us as we talk to some of the greatest minds and discover some of the most incredible gems you can use to maintain a higher level of health. Crackin Backs Podcast

Your dog’s health advice no longer comes from your veterinarian alone—it comes from your social media feed.

Longevity chews. “Stem cell” drops. CBD everything. Miracle arthritis injections. PEMF mats. Laser wands. Every ad promising “10 more years” with your dog.
But how much of it is real… and how much is just marketing wrapped in hope?

In this episode, we do something rare in modern pet health conversations: we slow down, remove the hype, and look at the evidence.

To help cut through the noise, we’re joined by Dr. Sonja Friedbauer, a highly respected veterinarian known for blending natural medicine, clinical experience, and evidence-based decision making. Dr. Friedbauer returns to help pet owners understand what actually works, what’s overpromised, and where caution is warranted.

We dig into some of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in canine health today, including:

• How to spot red flags when a product claims to be “clinically proven” to reverse arthritis or extend lifespan
• What real evidence looks like in veterinary medicine—and what doesn’t qualify
• The truth about Librela: when it can be a powerful option, what’s still unknown, and how owners should monitor dogs month to month
• How Librela compares to NSAIDs, weight loss, rehab, and supplements
• If you want a natural-first approach, which supplement ingredients actually have meaningful evidence in dogs—and which ones don’t
• Omega-3 dosing that matters, how long it takes to see change, and why most owners underdose
• UC-II vs glucosamine and chondroitin—explained simply and practically
• How to avoid junk supplements by understanding sourcing, testing, and quality control

We also explore the growing obsession with dog longevity, including the buzz around rapamycin and other anti-aging candidates—what we truly know today, and what pet owners should not assume yet.

Gut health is another major focus. With probiotics, postbiotics, and microbiome testing flooding the market, we discuss what’s promising, what’s premature, and how gut and immune inflammation often show up as joint pain, skin issues, and accelerated aging.

As veterinary costs rise faster than inflation, we also tackle a difficult but necessary conversation: how pet parents and clinicians can work together to create care plans that are financially realistic and medically responsible—without sacrificing long-term health.

And for new and future dog owners, we shift gears to puppies:

• What the latest research says about puppy nutrition from 8 weeks through adolescence
• The science behind puppy food vs adult food and feeding frequency
• Why early gut health can shape lifelong wellness
• The behavioral and developmental milestones that matter more than most people realize
• How early socialization and structured learning influence confidence, resilience, and long-term behavior

This episode is for dog owners who love deeply, think critically, and want to make decisions based on clarity—not fear or marketing.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by pet health trends, confused by conflicting advice, or unsure where to spend your money wisely, this conversation will change how you look at your dog’s care.

We are two sports chiropractors, seeking knowledge from some of the best resources in the world of health. From our perspective, health is more than just “Crackin Backs” but a deep dive into physical, mental, and nutritional well-being philosophies.

Join us as we talk to some of the greatest minds and discover some of the most incredible gems you can use to maintain a higher level of health. Crackin Backs Podcast

She Survived a 113-MPH Crash — Kali Parkinson’s Story of Trauma, Healing, and Becoming Someone New | Crackin’ Backs Podcast

One moment, you’re a college student planning your future.
The next, you’re in a car going 113 miles per hour, rolling 15 times down a 300-foot canyon in rural Utah.

On this powerful episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, we sit down with Kali Parkinson, a college student whose life changed in a single, violent moment—and whose story of survival, recovery, and identity will stay with you long after the episode ends.

The driver of the car died on impact.
Kali survived—but only because of a chain of unlikely “coincidences” that defy explanation.

Random hikers happened to be out on a Wednesday night in a remote canyon.
Despite minimal cell service, they were able to call 911.
A medical helicopter was already in the area on a training flight and arrived in less than 25 minutes.
One hiker carried a pocket knife with a seatbelt cutter, just in time to free Kali as the belt tightened around her neck and began to suffocate her.

This episode isn’t about shock value.
It’s about what happens after—when survival becomes the starting line, not the finish.

In this conversation, Kali shares:

• What she remembers from the moment everything changed—and the first clear thought that cut through the chaos
• How surviving a near-fatal car accident affects not just the body, but the mind
• The hardest emotions she faced once the dust settled
• What it’s like when your body becomes something you must relearn instead of trust
• The challenge of going from independence at college to suddenly needing help in ways most young adults never experience
• Whether accepting help—or trusting herself again—was the harder battle
• How facing mortality at such a young age changed her relationship with time, priorities, and what truly matters
• Who she hopes people sense she is today—not what she survived, but who she has become

This episode speaks directly to anyone who has experienced trauma, loss, or a life-altering event—and to anyone navigating the quiet, unseen work of healing.

Why This Story Matters

Kali Parkinson’s story reminds us that healing isn’t linear, strength isn’t loud, and survival is not the same as living. Her experience offers insight not only for those recovering from physical trauma, but for anyone re-learning trust—in their body, their mind, and their future.

This is not just a story about what happened.
It’s a story about who you become afterward.

Watch or Listen

Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

We are two sports chiropractors, seeking knowledge from some of the best resources in the world of health. From our perspective, health is more than just “Crackin Backs” but a deep dive into physical, mental, and nutritional well-being philosophies.

Join us as we talk to some of the greatest minds and discover some of the most incredible gems you can use to maintain a higher level of health. Crackin Backs Podcast