Introduction and Career Origins
Taryell Simmons: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. It is your host, Taryell Simmons, in the building and I have a special guest today. We have Dr. Danielle Peebles in the building, author and founder of ProHealth Family Chiropractic. How did you get into this career field?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: It happened really by chance. I always wanted to be a doctor ever since I was six years old. As I grew older, I developed a strong interest in neurosurgery after reading Dr. Ben Carson's books. I went to St. Louis University, which is a feeder school into their medical school. After my junior year as an undergrad, while working in the financial aid office, a gentleman named Dr. Brown vouched for me to help run a summer enrichment program on the medical campus for aspiring high school students.
Dr. Danielle Peebles: During the program, the wife of the dean asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I proudly told her I was going to be a neurosurgeon. She asked me if I had thought about having a family and the time commitment required for both. My values had already begun shifting toward family over career. She then asked if I had ever considered becoming a chiropractor and introduced me to Dr. Bess, who was the first African American chiropractor I had ever met. I started researching the profession, realized it focused on neurology and the spine, and fell in love with it.
Taryell Simmons: For the people who do not know Dr. Danielle Peebles, the fantastic author and chiropractic superstar that you are, who is Dr. Peebles?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: I hail from St. Louis, Missouri. I grew up in the St. Louis Public School System and matriculated to St. Louis University, where I earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics. From there, I went to chiropractic college where I acquired my doctorate degree in chiropractic.
Spinal Health and Wellness in the Black Community
Taryell Simmons: I did not get into chiropractic care until my late thirties. In our community, many men do not like going to the doctor unless they are dragged in. How can the Black community benefit by understanding the importance of chiropractic care?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: The benefits are numerous. Every system of our body is impacted by chiropractic adjustments, including sleep quality, digestion, mental and physical stress management, and overall happiness. Our young African American men often avoid the doctor, but when they do go, they might be told their blood pressure is erratic. In athletes, high-impact contact and jumping rattles the nervous system that controls the heart. If the spinal nerve is irritated by joint misalignment, it sends erratic signals to the heart, causing blood pressure fluctuations. The longer it goes unchecked, the worse the symptoms become.
Taryell Simmons: Many people say they felt fine until they went to the doctor and things were examined. Why is that?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: People get comfortable adapting to dysfunction. If you wake up with a stiff neck and cannot turn your head, you might turn your entire upper body to check your blind spot while driving. You stay in that pattern for so long that you accept it as your new normal rather than recognizing that your body is not functioning properly.
Addressing Chiropractic Misconceptions
Taryell Simmons: What are the main misconceptions about your field?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: The first misconception is that once you start going, you have to keep going forever. The second is that care is too expensive and inaccessible. The third is that the risk of getting hurt is high.
Taryell Simmons: Let us address the first one: that once you go, you have to keep going.
Dr. Danielle Peebles: When you buy a car, you put gas in it so it can run. You do not stop and complain about having to keep putting gas in it. Once you start going to the chiropractor, you experience how good your body feels with less pain and improved range of motion. You choose to return because your body functions at its best when properly aligned.
Dr. Danielle Peebles: Regarding cost, many people assume health insurance will cover everything, but policies vary. If insurance does not cover the full cost, reputable clinics provide affordable payment plans so financial constraints do not prevent patients from receiving care.
Patience, the Journey, and Operating in the Zone of Genius
Taryell Simmons: When looking at how you reached your level of success, what challenges did you have to overcome?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: Having patience with myself. In our modern culture, people expect instantaneous results. True progress requires delayed gratification and preparation, just like cooking a rich, slow-cooked meal where ingredients must marinate and work takes place behind the scenes before the final feast is ready. The journey is what shapes and tweaks who you are becoming.
Taryell Simmons: What books have inspired you along the way?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. The book outlines four zones: the zone of incompetence, the zone of competence, the zone of excellence, and the zone of genius. In the zone of excellence, you can perform tasks well, but you are merely going through the motions. In your zone of genius, you are thriving, doing what you love and do best. For me, while paperwork is necessary, my zone of genius is communicating with patients, correlating their symptoms to spinal health, and performing adjustments.
Transforming the Clinical Experience and Pediatric Care
Taryell Simmons: Creating that positive clinic culture creates a safe space where patients heal both physically and emotionally.
Dr. Danielle Peebles: That experience extends to all ages. Children who visit our clinic learn to articulate how their bodies feel early on. Recently, a four-year-old patient named Elise called our office herself to schedule an appointment because her back felt uncomfortable. Teaching young children to recognize bodily sensations and give voice to their health needs empowers them for life.
Confronting Healthcare Disparities and Empowering Patient Advocacy
Taryell Simmons: Healthcare disparities, such as maternal mortality rates among Black women, show that patients are often ignored or assumed to tolerate pain easily. How do we address this?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: Flawed medical research and biased algorithms have historically harmed minority patients. We must question the intent behind data and recognize that African Americans are not a monolith. In my practice, I equip patients with language and knowledge so they can advocate for themselves in any clinical setting. Most importantly, I teach them to trust their intuition and bodily awareness rather than doubting what they know.
Dr. Danielle Peebles: I also treat every patient visit as an immediate educational opportunity rather than relying on separate workshops. Life is full of distractions, so educating patients right on the adjustment table ensures they leave with actionable knowledge.
Sex Sent Me to the Chiropractor and Final Wisdom
Taryell Simmons: Tell us about your book, Sex Sent Me to the Chiropractor.
Dr. Danielle Peebles: I wrote Sex Sent Me to the Chiropractor as a humorous way to educate people on the extensive benefits of chiropractic care, specifically regarding the sexual and reproductive systems. The book explores how spinal adjustments can alleviate menstrual cramps, support healthy pregnancies and deliveries, and assist with issues like erectile dysfunction or intimacy-related strain. It uses an engaging topic to deliver essential health lessons, and I am currently writing the sequel.
Taryell Simmons: If you could upload one crucial piece of health advice into everyone's brain, what would it be?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: Get your spine checked. Your spinal health is the truest indicator of your overall health because the nerves flowing through the spine control every system in your body.
Taryell Simmons: Where can people find you and your work?
Dr. Danielle Peebles: You can visit my website at https://www.stlprohealth.com or call my office directly at 314-607-9150.
Dr. Danielle Peebles: My final words of wisdom are: be true to yourself, trust yourself, be patient, forgive yourself, be kind to yourself, and get your spine checked.
