In the September 2025 On Purpose Politics segment, Drs. Daniel Knowles and Steve Tullius call on chiropractors to reclaim their profession from monopolistic control, rediscover their mission, and lead with purpose.
The Moral Duty of Stewardship
When Dr. Daniel Knowles sat down with Dr. Steve Tullius for the September On Purpose Politics segment, the conversation went far beyond policy. It was about the soul of chiropractic. Both men spoke with conviction about stewardship, the sacred responsibility of every chiropractor to protect and advance the principles of vertebral subluxation and the 33 principles.
“We are stewards by nature of being chiropractors. Those who understand the devastating impact of vertebral subluxation have a moral responsibility to protect and promote this thing.” — Dr. Steve Tullius
Tullius reminded listeners that leadership in chiropractic is not a luxury. It is a duty. Whether caring for patients or defending the profession itself, chiropractors are called to stand for something greater than themselves.
How Chiropractic Was Stolen
The discussion turned to the roots of the Chiropractic Freedom Coalition and why such a movement is necessary today. Tullius detailed how the current cartel of the Council on Chiropractic Education, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards gained control in the 1970s, shaping education, licensure, and public policy through monopolistic influence.
“They used government structures to orchestrate a monopoly. They coerced schools into compliance and created a culture of fear that still lingers today.” — Dr. Tullius
Both doctors agreed that the fight is not against chiropractic unity but for academic and professional freedom. The coalition’s goals are simple: remove CCE-only and NBCE-only language from state laws, recognize additional accrediting options such as the International Agency for Chiropractic Evaluation, and preserve a drug-free profession.
“If you’re not for the coalition, you’re for the cartel. This is the line.” — Dr. Tullius
The Cost of Monopoly
Dr. Knowles described the latest overreach by the NBCE, its 20 million dollar centralized Part IV testing facility in Greeley, Colorado. The move forces students to travel long distances and pay inflated fees for a redundant exam that other health professions have already eliminated.
“The medical and osteopathic professions got rid of their equivalent of Part IV during COVID because it was unnecessary. Chiropractic doubled down instead.” — Dr. Knowles
The irony, both agreed, is painful. The very organizations claiming to raise chiropractic’s standards are the ones most responsible for driving students into debt, suppressing innovation, and silencing dissenting schools.
The Birth of a Movement
Out of this frustration came the Chiropractic Freedom Coalition, a grassroots alliance uniting leaders, schools, and organizations committed to restoring freedom of choice in chiropractic education and licensure.
The coalition is not an institution, it is a movement. Its three principles are clear:
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Free market competition in education and licensure.
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Removal of monopolistic language from state statutes and regulations.
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Commitment to a drugless profession.
“We’re not looking to destroy anything. We’re building a future where chiropractors and chiropractic institutions can flourish without coercion.” — Dr. Tullius
Mile High 13, held in Colorado, will serve as a rallying point for this movement. Chiropractors attending will have opportunities to connect directly with coalition leaders, contribute time, resources, and talent, and become part of the next chapter in chiropractic freedom.
Reclaiming the Public’s Understanding
In the latter part of the interview, Tullius shifted focus from politics to public perception. He challenged chiropractors to stop marketing themselves like musculoskeletal technicians and start communicating the true power of chiropractic.
“The model most chiropractors use to get new patients is pathogenic. We chase pain instead of cultivating wellness.” — Dr. Tullius
Through his Waitlist Workshops and practice model, he teaches chiropractors how to educate communities in a way that attracts rather than chases people. By helping the sickest of the sick and speaking authentically about vertebral subluxation, chiropractors can rebuild the demand that naturally arises when people understand the principle.
Knowles echoed this sentiment, noting that the profession’s obsession with external validation and insurance dependence reflects a lack consciousness. Chiropractors must reject the scarcity mindset and re-embrace the abundant value of what they do.
“Don’t gamble with our future. Draw a line in the sand. The only way chiropractic survives is if we remember who we are.” — Dr. Knowles
The Takeaway
The September 2025 On Purpose Politics segment with Drs. Knowles and Tullius is a call to action. Chiropractors must rise as stewards, not spectators. They must understand the political machinery shaping their profession and reclaim their right to define chiropractic by its principles, not its politics.
Freedom in chiropractic is not a luxury, it is a moral imperative.
About On Purpose
The On Purpose Podcast is hosted by Christopher Kent DC, JD, MBA, ACP and Matthew McCoy DC, MPH. Since the early 1990s, On Purpose has been the spearhead of the Chiropractic Freedom Movement. It began as mailed cassette tapes, evolved into CDs, then online audio, and now lives on Substack with full-length video segments in Science, Philosophy, and Politics.
Tagline: When You Are On Purpose, You Are Not Alone.
Subscribe and listen at chiroonpurpose.substack.com or visit chiroonpurpose.com.
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