On this episode, I sit down with Lisa Pataky, a sports physical therapist whose career has spanned pro tennis, Overtime Elite, and now the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves. We dive into what it takes to build trust with athletes, bridge the gap between medical and performance teams, and reconsider long-term rehab as a training macrocycle rather than a checklist. If you’re curious about life as a PT in both the individual and team sport settings, give this a listen. Clinical Athlete FB Communi...
Jul 07, 2025•51 min•Ep. 68
Today is a special episode as I welcome back my very FIRST guest and good mentor, Jarred Boyd! Jarred is the Director of Rehab for the Memphis Grizzlies and embodies what it means to think deeply and reflectively. In this episode we talk about how he builds trust with athletes through offseason reflection, storytelling, and clear education. Jared also shares the four core values that shape his high-performance team. We wrap up with a thoughtful discussion on false steps, injury risk, and why con...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 67
In this episode, I sit down with Trevor Rappa from Resilient Performance PT to talk all things return to sport, especially in the mid to end stages of rehab. We get into the weeds on movement strategies and change of direction. Trevor breaks down how he builds progressions, why most athletes are underprepared, and how reactive drills may lead to better outcomes than pre-planned ones. We also touch on the realities of the cash-based model, the value of mentorship, and the importance of developing...
May 14, 2025•46 min•Ep. 66
Welcome back, friends! In this episode, I'm joined by Kelsey Fuller and Hannah Dvorak, two PTs that I met as students and walked alongside as they searched for their first job and ultimately walked away from those jobs. They share about their journey, from being diligent in their initial job search to being patient in the middle of their first job when things got hard to finally finding the courage to quit. Knowing when to walk away is incredibly hard, but I know you’ll be encouraged by both of ...
Apr 27, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 65
Welcome back, friends! In this episode, I'm joined by Matt McInnes Watson, the founder of PlusPlyos, to dive deep into all things plyometrics. Matt is a high jumper turned coach and now educator, where he aims to make plyometrics more approachable by providing simple, scalable frameworks for athletes and clinicians. He shares his ideas behind plyometric progressions, as well as misconceptions he's experienced in the rehab space. Whether you’re a clinician or coach, this episode will give you som...
Apr 02, 2025•46 min•Ep. 64
Welcome back friends! In this episode, I sit down with Erin Kelly-Sullivan, who began her career as a physical therapist and then pivoted into the world of branding and design. Erin shares her journey of realizing early in her PT career that clinical practice wasn’t the right fit and how she navigated the uncertainty of what to do next. We dive into her transition to branding, the struggles of leaving an identity behind, and the lessons she’s learned about building a business that aligns with wh...
Mar 14, 2025•40 min•Ep. 63
In this episode I sit down and chat with Rich Willy, a leading expert in running-related injuries and bone stress injuries. We dive deep into the complexities of bone loading, the evolving role of biomechanics in injury risk, and the practical application of strength training and plyometrics for athletes. Rich shares invaluable insights on mentorship, professional growth, and the importance of bridging research with clinical practice. If you’re looking to refine your approach to treating enduran...
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 62
On this episode, I sit down with Natasha Barnes, a chiropractor who specializes in working with climbing athletes. Natasha shares her journey from being an elite climber to navigating chiropractic school, where she was motivated to develop a more evidence-based, exercise-focused approach to rehab as an independent practitioner. We dive into how her treatment philosophy has evolved, the challenges of shifting patient expectations, and the unique considerations of working with climbers—especially ...
Jan 30, 2025•49 min•Ep. 61
In this episode I chat with Abby Gordon, a sports physical therapist at Seattle Children’s, about her career journey from working with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm to treating pediatric sports injuries and chronic pain. She reflects on how her approach to patient care has changed, the unique challenges of professional sports medicine, and the critical role of addressing holistic factors like sleep, nutrition, and mental health in treatment. Abby also discusses her transition into teaching and shares...
Jan 03, 2025•50 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, I sit down with Missy Mitchell-Mcbeth, a seasoned strength and conditioning coach with a wealth of experience in both coaching and consulting. We dive into how her thought process has changed in relation to plyometrics, conditioning, and the art of coaching. Missy shares insightful perspectives on building relationships with sport coaches, shaping athletes’ long-term development, and navigating the challenges of modern sports demands. Whether you're a coach or PT, there's so muc...
Dec 13, 2024•50 min•Ep. 59
In this episode, I sit down with Chelsea Ortega to discuss her role as the Director of Health and Performance for the LA Sparks and how she juggles professional demands with life as a mom. Chelsea shares insights on managing time, building systems for athlete care, and embracing the challenges of her dual roles. Her story offers practical advice and perspective for anyone balancing family and career. Chelsea is a wealth of knowledge and experience and I couldn't be more excited to share this con...
Nov 23, 2024•54 min•Ep. 58
In this episode of Rethinking Rehab , I sit down with Sean Harris, a physical therapist and entrepreneur, to talk about his journey from working in a hospital system to running a large gym, clinic, and private research lab in Houston. Sean shares how having a strong vision helped him make tough decisions and grow his business, even during challenging times. We dive into lessons he’s learned about leadership, building problem-solving teams, and balancing work with personal fulfillment. Whether yo...
Oct 20, 2024•54 min•Ep. 57
In this episode, I chat with Maggie Bryant, whose journey I've personally been inspired by over the years. I've always appreciated how honest she is in conversations about life as a PT in the NBA - the really cool parts, but also the hard and challenging parts that you don't see online. She currently serves as the President of Performance, Health, and Wellness for the LA Clippers. Maggie shares about her journey leading up to her current role and how her skillset has evolved as she's taken on mo...
Oct 06, 2024•38 min•Ep. 56
Hey friends! In this episode, I chat with a great human I met through a book club a few years back. Dominick Walker is the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Mississippi State's Men's Basketball program. Like most of us, he's been inudated with so many methods and thought processes, all which promise better results than the "other." Ultimately he's found value in simplifying his approach by staying true to foundational principles. Dominick shares about the importance of balancing an a...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Hey friends! Super excited to share this conversation I had with Alex Hubelbank. Alex wears multiple hats as a performance physical therapist, strength coach and athletic trainer. We dive into her role as an NBA Consultant, discussing the challenges of maintaining effective communication, adapting rehab techniques, and the role of manual therapy in high-stakes environments. Lastly, we chat about the evolving nature of career goals and the ever so elusive idea of work-life balance. Enjoy Clinical...
Aug 30, 2024•59 min•Ep. 54
Hey friends! Super pumped to share this conversation I had with Ramsey Nijem, the Director of Performance for the University of Kansas Men's Basketball team. Ramsey shares why he decided to leave the NBA for an opportunity in Division 1 basketball. We also delve into the complexities of injury prediction and the critical role of community support for strength coaches. Enjoy! Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/bsPN9w8h1Z4JHqiu/...
Aug 06, 2024•49 min•Ep. 53
Hey friends! On this episode I sit down and chat with Dano Norceide, a Physical Therapist and Athletic Trainer with the Arizona Cardinals. During the first half of our conversation Dano shares the detailed version of his journey to the NFL, including the challenges he's faced. The second half of our chat highlights how Dano's approach to athlete care has changed. Dano emphasizes the importance of flexibility in treatment approaches and the value of soft skills, networking, and continuous learnin...
Jul 09, 2024•55 min•Ep. 52
Hey friends! On this episode I catch up with my good friend and former coworker, Justin Tallard, who now works with the Philadelphia Phillies as a Minor League Rehab Coordinator. We chat about the importance of his mentorship and networking early on in his career, as well as what he's learned during his transition from working in an outpatient sports clinic to professional baseball. Clinical Athlete FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/DSgRBPKC2Btd4eMU/...
Jun 14, 2024•35 min•Ep. 51
Hey friends! Welcome back to episode #50! WOW. I'm stoked to share this conversation I had with Lindsay Gately, a PT-AT with the Washington Commanders. We chat about her journey into the NFL, wearing both PT and AT hats, working within multi-disciplinary high-performance sports medicine team, navigating the conversation around achilles tendon ruptures, and so much more. CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/
May 24, 2024•53 min•Ep. 50
Hey, friends! Olivia Abdoo and I chat about her career path leading up to her job with the UFC. We talk about what she gained through her residency and fellowship experiences. We also chat about some of her clinical challenges and a few strategies she uses with her fighters to maintain buy in. Finally, Olivia shares how she's matured in her responses to other people relative to the beginning of her career. Enjoy! CALU Community FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/...
May 01, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 49
Welcome back, friends! Excited to share this chat I had with Ben Brewster, a pitching coach and co-founder of Tread Athletics, a holistic coaching facility for baseball athletes in North Carolina. Ben shared a thread on X titled, “The Problem with Interval Throwing Programs,” which caught my attention and acted as the springboard for this conversation. We also chat about his training philosophy and have a candid conversation about what PTs can be doing differently to better support these athlete...
Apr 01, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 48
Hey friends! Scot Morrison is a physical therapist, strength coach, and educator who currently works in special operations. Scot has a special interest in clinical decision making and managing uncertainty in clinical practice. We also cover the importance of understanding what you’re actually measuring when you perform objective testing. Finally, we wrap up the conversation talking about the relationship between constraints and exercise dosage. Enjoy! CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/...
Mar 12, 2024•59 min•Ep. 47
Hey, friends! I’d love to introduce you to my friend and old co-worker Thornton Johnson. He has transitioned out of the clinic to a fully remote role where he works as a medical writer for Smith and Nephew, a medical technology company. Thornton works as an evidence evaluation specialist within their sports and orthopedics department, where he gets to marry his clinical understanding of post-operative rehab with his love for reading research, all while collaborating with engineers and product de...
Feb 26, 2024•52 min•Ep. 46
Welcome back, friends! Super excited to share this chat with you. This is the “how not to get duped by research” episode. We talk about impact factor, predatory journals, research designs, p-value, effect size, etc. Buckle up. CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity/ Connect with our PT Inquest friends! Instagram: @ptinquest Website: PTInquest.com
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 45
Welcome back, friends! Emily (aka Injury RD) works as a registered dietician who is passionate about equipping and educating injured athletes. Emily shares subtle signs and questions that healthcare providers can ask to get a more in-depth understanding of their athletes’ nutritional beliefs and values. Soon Emily will be launching her Feed the Quad program, geared toward busy athletes looking to support their ACL rehab with a solid nutrition program. If you work with this population and are loo...
Jan 16, 2024•44 min•Ep. 44
Welcome back, friends! If you don’t know Laura Opstedal you should! Laura is a physical therapist and owns Build Physio in Bozeman, MT. We chat about her practice model, clinic philosophy, and how she’s changed her approach with quad tendon ACLRs. I hope you enjoy! CALU FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity
Dec 31, 2023•46 min•Ep. 43
Welcome back, friends! In this episode I sit down with Sean Harris and Kasey Hankins, who co-founded the Ignite Clinical Institute. We talk about the benefits and drawbacks of various modes of continuing education, the importance of making mistakes, pursuing excellence in community through mentorship, identifying which courses to take, and more details about their own continuing education vision. Whether you identify as a mentor or a mentee this conversation is made for you! CALU FB Page: https:...
Dec 15, 2023•57 min•Ep. 42
Welcome back, friends! Excited to share this conversation I had with Erik Meira. We talk about his love for teaching and how his approach to movement re-education has evolved over the years. Additionally, we chat about how his thought process on patient-reported outcomes and knee valgus has changed. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. FB CALU Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/calucommunity
Dec 01, 2023•54 min•Ep. 41
Welcome back, friends! If there’s a con-ed course, Shaun has taken it. He quickly realized that most weekend courses and certification systems don’t do a great job of bridging the gap between the content and high performance. Shaun is passionate about two things when it comes to controversial topics in rehab like the ribcage and respiration: 1) giving it more context and 2) helping clinicians connect the dots between these topics and performance so they don’t “throw the baby out with the bath wa...
Nov 17, 2023•58 min•Ep. 40
Welcome back, friends! If you are feeling stuck, uninspired, or limited in your ability to make a real impact in healthcare, then this might just be the episode for you! Frank has helped many clinicians build a career they actually enjoy. Today we chat about why he has shifted from calling for a Healthcare Revolution to a Healthcare Renaissance. Additionally, Frank shares a few thoughts on how we can be leveraging artificial intelligence in our own practices. Stay tuned to the very end for some ...
Oct 31, 2023•52 min•Ep. 39
