The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast

07/04/2025

Complex illness requires complex thinking. Dr. Kristin Barnes and Dr. Ryan Phillips discuss the value of having a care team—and how naturopathic doctors can serve as the “executive directors” of a patient’s healing plan.

Naturopaths are uniquely positioned to bridge physical and mental health, integrating everything from nutrition to emotional wellbeing. It's not about silos—it's about synergy.

Discover what integrated care really looks like. Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

07/03/2025

In Western medicine, health is often treated as an individual issue. But as Dr. Ryan Phillips explains, true health is shared—it's systemic, communal, and deeply interconnected.

Treatments that end at the border of our skin won’t heal us. They manage symptoms. We deserve more than symptom management—we deserve vibrant, sustainable health that includes our communities and environments.

Step into a new definition of wellness. Full episode here: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

07/02/2025

Why are so many naturopathic doctors hesitant to step into the mental health space? Dr. Ryan Phillips challenges that hesitation—and urges NDs to realize they are uniquely trained for this work.

From nutritional deficiencies to trauma-informed care, NDs bring powerful tools that conventional providers often overlook. It's time to step up and own that expertise, especially in the face of a growing national mental health crisis.

If you're an ND or believe in integrative care, don’t miss this. The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast Full episode here: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

07/01/2025

The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country—yet ranks last among developed nations in outcomes. In this reel, together with host Dr Kristin Barnes, guest Dr. Ryan Phillips unpacks the paradox: we pour money into a system that delivers less.

He highlights how profit is often highest in the most inefficient corners of healthcare, turning the system into a black hole for resources. More money isn't the answer—it’s time for a paradigm shift.

If you're ready to rethink the system, the full episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast is a must-watch: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/30/2025

One in four American adults has a diagnosable mental health condition. Dr. Ryan Phillips opens up about the scale of the mental health crisis—and why our current system is woefully unprepared to meet the need.

Drawing from his public health background, he urges providers and policymakers to look at scalable, sustainable solutions—not just one-on-one care, but population-level change. The size of the problem demands a shift in how we think, fund, and act.

Want a realistic look at the mental health crisis? Watch the full episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast hosted by Kristin Barnes: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/29/2025

Many trained professionals in Colorado are asking the same thing: Is it even worth staying in the regulated psychedelic therapy space? On The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, together with host Kristin Barnes, Dr. Ryan Phillips shares how overwhelming costs and red tape are pushing practitioners back into the underground.

Regulations are supposed to protect patients—but when they become barriers to access, they can do more harm than good. In this candid segment, Dr. Phillips outlines the unintended consequences of overregulation in psychedelic medicine.

Regulation or regression? Tune into the full conversation: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/28/2025

What if one psilocybin journey could equal 10 years of therapy? Dr. Ryan Phillips unpacks the cost-effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted treatment—not just in dollars, but in depth of healing and outcomes.

He explains how patients often receive more time, attention, and results than traditional services. With efficacy rates that rival—and sometimes surpass—mainstream mental health treatments, psilocybin is challenging the economic norms of care.

Curious how alternative therapies stack up? Watch the full episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast hosted by Kristin Barnes here: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/27/2025

What does it really cost to become a leader in psychedelic-assisted therapy? In this reel, Dr. Ryan Phillips breaks down the financial and personal investment behind his extensive training—$18,000 in one year alone, all self-funded.

He contrasts this with the traditional path of MDs and DOs, who often have continuing education built into their systems. For naturopathic doctors, it’s a journey of passion, sacrifice, and self-motivation. Every credential comes with deep intention.

Get inspired by what it takes to do the work that matters. Full episode here with Dr Kristin Barnes and Dr Ryan Phillips: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/26/2025

Healthcare today can feel like a buffet—you pick from dozens of treatments, hoping they somehow work together. But as Dr. Ryan Phillips says, just because options are available doesn't mean they’re integrated.

In this segment of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast with host Dr Kristin Barnes, Dr Phillip draws a sharp comparison between medical modalities and a disjointed plate of chow mein, Caesar salad, and fried chicken. The problem? Too many options, not enough strategy. He calls for care that’s cohesive and intentional.

If you're tired of “Golden Corral medicine,” this episode offers a better way: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/25/2025

In Colorado, the future of psychedelic therapy is already unfolding. Dr. Ryan Phillips explains how the Natural Medicine Health Act has made psilocybin legal for clinical use—and what that means for providers and patients alike.

From building a clinic through Transcendent Integrative Health to collaborating with the team at NeuroGrove, Dr. Phillips is at the forefront of a movement redefining mental health treatment with natural psychedelics like psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline.

Curious about the legal side of healing? Don’t miss the full discussion of The Alternative Flight Plan hosted by Dr Kristin Barnes: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/24/2025

What happens when healthcare becomes a mission, not just a job? In this clip from The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, together with host Dr Kristin Barnes, Dr. Ryan Phillips reflects on his nonprofit experience in India and how it shaped his drive to make psychedelic-assisted therapy accessible—not just for the elite, but for those who truly need it.

Dr. Phillips shares how intention and integrity guided his work from global development to the front lines of mental health innovation. His mission today is rooted in compassion and justice, aiming to build systems that don’t leave people behind.

If you believe healing should be equitable, this conversation is for you. Full episode here: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

06/23/2025

What happens when modern healthcare isn’t enough—and a new paradigm is waiting in the wings? On this episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr. Kristin Barnes welcomes Dr. Ryan Phillips, a naturopathic doctor, certified psychedelic-assisted therapy provider, and board-certified biofeedback expert. Together, they take flight into a powerful conversation on integrative mental health, psilocybin-assisted therapy, and the vital role of naturopaths in America’s broken healthcare system.

Dr. Phillips shares his personal journey from a conservative Indiana upbringing to living in the Himalayas, and how those years transformed his understanding of medicine, community, and healing. He unpacks the structural flaws in our system—particularly the divide between physical and mental health—and how his work at Transcendent Integrative Health and NeuroGrove is helping patients bridge that gap. He also dives deep into the regulation and economics of psychedelic care, offering an unfiltered look at the real costs and bureaucratic hurdles involved in creating legal access to psilocybin treatment.

This episode explores why true integrative medicine isn’t just about having a menu of modalities—it’s about crafting a five-course healing experience. From nutrition and neurofeedback to trauma-informed counseling and plant medicine, Dr. Phillips explains how to create synergistic systems of care that nourish the whole person, not just the symptoms.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to practice medicine differently—or how to access healing beyond the “Golden Corral buffet” of healthcare—this episode is a must-listen.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kbnrXQvQLGY

What happens when modern healthcare isn’t enough—and a new paradigm is waiting in the wings? On this episode of The Alternative Flight Plan Podcast, host Dr....