In this episode of CPhT Connect , hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith sit down with Courtney Miller, the powerhouse founder of Pharm Techs Only , to explore her remarkable 30-year journey in the pharmacy field. From her start at CVS in 1997 to roles in long-term care and even providing care within the complex environment of Rikers Island, Courtney shares the highs, lows, and hard lessons learned throughout her career. She opens up about the unique challenges of working in a correctional facil...
Jul 22, 2025•28 min
Welcome to a new episode of CPhT Connect , the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they explore the intersection of pharmacy and wellness with special guest Ranisha Mangle, CPhT. With over 20 years of experience and a degree in nutrition and wellness, Ranisha shares her inspiring journey from retail pharmacy to becoming a health educator and advocate for holistic care. In this episode, she dives into the benefits of vitamin D, the emerging “food as me...
Jul 08, 2025•34 min
Welcome to a new episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they welcome back Kevin Judeich, Licensing and Accreditation Specialist at Curexa Pharmacy, for an engaging conversation about career growth, specialization, and making an impact in pharmacy. In this episode, Kevin shares how his role has evolved—from a generalist technician to a regulatory specialist working with telemedicine providers and veterinary practices in a comp...
Jun 24, 2025•40 min
Welcome to a dynamic new episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnstonand Ashleigh Smith as they sit down with pharmacy powerhouse Margon Dillard, a seasoned technician whose passion for people and innovation is redefining what it means to work in pharmacy. In this episode, Margon shares her inspiring career journey—from pharmacy school to roles in retail, 503B compounding, hospital pharmacy, purchasing, management, pharma sales, and more. She shines a l...
Jun 17, 2025•49 min
Welcome back to CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! We’re continuing our Season 7 kickoff with Part 2 of our powerful leadership conversation featuring Kelley Babcock and Terri Norvell—two dynamic leadership development coaches passionate about empowering pharmacy technicians. In Part 1, Kelley and Terri joined hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith to introduce their Leadership Growth Formula and explore how leadership begins with mindset and behavior—not just titles. They encou...
Jun 10, 2025•37 min
Welcome to the Season 7 premiere of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they kick off a brand-new season with an empowering conversation on leadership in pharmacy. In this episode, leadership development coaches Kelley Babcock and Terri Norvell share the Leadership Growth Formula, a transformative approach to developing leadership skills and confidence—no matter your title. With deep roots in both corporate and independent pharmacy, ...
Jun 05, 2025•28 min
Welcome to a milestone episode of CPhT Connect , the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! For this special 100th episode, Ashleigh Smith interviews the NPTA creative team and Mike Johnston to reflect on the podcast’s incredible journey and celebrate how far it's come. In this episode, Mike Johnston and Peter Fazon, Creative Director for NPTA, dive into the early days of CPhT Connect —how the idea started, the challenges they faced, and the vision behind it. Then, the spotlight turns to the creative...
Apr 29, 2025•35 min•Ep. 100
Welcome to an insightful episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they dive into the topic of career advancement and professional growth for pharmacy technicians. In this episode, Mike and Ashleigh explore key strategies and frameworks to help technicians take control of their careers, including the Career Vision Framework, Career Compass, SMART Goals, IKIGAI, and the Career Lattice. They discuss how aligning your career with y...
Apr 17, 2025•28 min•Ep. 99
Welcome to a gripping episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they uncover the shocking case of Kim Thien Le, a pharmacy technician who successfully impersonated a licensed pharmacist for over 11 years at Walgreens. In this episode, Mike and Ashleigh break down how Le managed to fill over 745,000 prescriptions—including controlled substances—before being exposed in a routine California State Pharmacy Board audit. Walgreens fac...
Apr 01, 2025•26 min•Ep. 98
Welcome to an inspiring episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they sit down with Lindsey Storm, a seasoned pharmacy technician with 17 years of experience, including 13 at Vanderbilt Medical Center. In this episode, Lindsey shares her unique career journey, from studying pre-law to discovering her passion for pharmacy. What started as a job quickly became a career fueled by her curiosity and drive to grow. Now, she leads Van...
Mar 25, 2025•39 min•Ep. 97
Welcome to another inspiring episode of CPhT Connect , the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join host Mike Johnston as he sits down with Robyn, a dedicated pharmacy technician and educator, to discuss her unique career journey—from working in both independent and chain pharmacies to becoming an instructor shaping the next generation of pharmacy professionals. In this episode, Robyn shares the stark differences between independent and large-chain pharmacy settings, emphasizing the importance of ...
Mar 04, 2025•29 min•Ep. 96
Welcome to a special episode of CPhT Connect, celebrating the 26th anniversary of the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA)! Join co-hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they take a deep dive into the origins and evolution of NPTA. In this episode, Mike steps into the guest seat as Ashleigh interviews him about the journey that led to the creation of NPTA. He shares how the idea first emerged from a pharmacy calculations seminar he hosted, where he saw a clear need for a dedicated...
Feb 06, 2025•27 min
Welcome to an inspiring episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they sit down with Chance O'Neal, a certified pharmacy technician, to discuss his remarkable journey from a career in graphic design to the pharmacy profession during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Chance shares how he transitioned into the field of pharmacy, starting with a role at a long-term care pharmacy call center before ultimately finding his passi...
Jan 23, 2025•22 min
Welcome to an insightful episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they engage in a compelling discussion with Dr. Benjamin Jolley about the complexities of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and their impact on independent pharmacies. In this episode, Dr. Jolley defends the existence of PBMs in managing insurance payments but critiques the inherent conflicts of interest when PBMs also operate as pharmacies. He explains how this d...
Jan 09, 2025•28 min
Welcome to a year-end special of CPhT Connect , the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they conclude the countdown of the Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024, diving into the biggest headlines and their implications for the industry. #5 Compounding Pharmacy Lawsuits Over GLP-1 Medications Amid GLP-1 shortages, compounding pharmacies stepped in with affordable alternatives, sparking patent lawsuits from major manufacturers. The FDA’s shifting stance left ...
Dec 31, 2024•15 min•Ep. 92
Welcome to a special episode of CPhT Connect , the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they kick off part one of the Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024 . This engaging episode explores the major headlines, trends, and controversies shaping the pharmacy world this year. Top 10 Pharmacy Stories of 2024 (Part 1) 10. Pharmacists Gain Expanded Prescriptive Authority All 50 states and DC now allow pharmacists to prescribe medications such as birth control, smo...
Dec 26, 2024•18 min•Ep. 91
Welcome to this episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! In this inspiring installment, hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith sit down with Ariel to discuss her incredible career journey, resilience, and the lessons learned along the way. This episode delves into Ariel’s experiences navigating challenging work environments, feeling "stuck" in her career, and the steps she took to break into her dream role as a 340B audit and compliance analyst. Ariel shares her story of pe...
Dec 10, 2024•47 min•Ep. 90
This week on CPhT Connect, Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith chat with six inspiring pharmacy technicians who are also crushing it as entrepreneurs! As we celebrate Small Business Saturday this year, we dive into the world of side hustles, exploring how these techs manage their time, balance their passions with their careers, and find success outside the pharmacy. You'll be inspired by their stories and get practical tips to turn your own side hustle dreams into reality. Meet the Featured Pharmac...
Nov 27, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 6Ep. 89
Conference Highlights: Empowering Pharmacy Technicians to Level Up Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they recap the incredible sessions from a recent pharmacy conference, highlighting how pharmacy technicians can elevate their skills and impact. The conference featured engaging sessions like Dr. Timothy Aungst’s exploration of AI’s role in pharmacy, balancing its opportunities and challenges, and Nichole Barnes’s insights into pharmacy informatics and its potential to drive better p...
Nov 15, 2024•44 min•Ep. 88
Welcome to a special Halloween episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they explore the eerie and fascinating intersections of pharmacy history and the supernatural. This spooky episode dives into haunted pharmacy tales, from Dr. Duke's unsettling lab experiences to ghostly pharmacists said to linger in old apothecaries around the world. Listeners can enjoy a lighthearted “Witch’s Brew or Real Med Review” game, where Mike and ...
Oct 31, 2024•33 min•Ep. 87
Welcome to this episode of CPhT Connect, the podcast for pharmacy technicians! Join hosts Mike Johnston and Ashleigh Smith as they engage in a captivating conversation with Jordan Hudson, a certified pharmacy technician and advocate. Jordan shares her inspiring journey from her beginnings as a retail pharmacy technician to achieving a legislative milestone in New Hampshire, where she successfully championed the inclusion of a pharmacy technician representative on the State Board of Pharmacy. In ...
Oct 15, 2024•30 min
Welcome to the latest episode of CPhT Connect, the Podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join our host, Mike Johnston, as he engages in an enlightening conversation with Crystal, a dedicated member of Futuro Health. Crystal shares her inspiring journey from her start as a pharmacy cashier to her impactful role in empowering the next generation of healthcare workers. Explore Crystal’s story as she describes her passion for helping individuals break into the healthcare field through Futuro Health's un...
Oct 08, 2024•43 min
In this inspiring episode, Mike Johnston interviews Shaun Noorian, a pioneering figure in the world of compounding pharmacies and the visionary behind Empower Pharmacy. Shaun shares his unique career journey, from his roots as a pharmacy technician to leading one of the largest compounding pharmacies in the U.S. Throughout the conversation, Shaun discusses the growth of Empower Pharmacy, scaling challenges, and their unwavering commitment to providing personalized, high-quality medications to pa...
Oct 01, 2024•52 min•Season 6Ep. 84
In this episode of CPhT Connect, Mike Johnston interviews Krystal Green, a seasoned pharmacy technician educator who shares her journey and insights on the profession. Krystal describes how her introverted personality contrasts with her dynamic teaching style, where she feels a switch flips, allowing her to passionately convey the importance of patient-centered care to her students. She highlights the joy of watching her students succeed, whether in passing certification exams or advancing in th...
Sep 24, 2024•32 min•Season 6Ep. 83
Welcome to this insightful episode of CPhT Connect , the Podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join our host, Mike Johnston, as he sits down with Ashleigh Smith, Director of Continuing Education at NPTA, for a candid conversation about her career journey and the importance of self-initiative in professional growth. In this episode, Ashleigh shares the memorable story of her interview with Mike, where unconventional questions revealed her personality and passion for project management. She reflects o...
Sep 17, 2024•49 min
Welcome to the 81st episode of CPhT Connect, the Podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join our host, Mike Johnston, as he engages in an enlightening conversation with Julio Isaac Rodriguez, a seasoned pharmacy technician originally from Puerto Rico. Julio's journey began in 2008 with Walgreens, where his curiosity about pharmacy grew. Despite having a degree in history and languages, he pursued pharmacy, eventually obtaining his PTCB certification and later, advanced certifications. Explore Julio's...
Jun 26, 2024•33 min
In this episode of CPHT Connect, Mike Johnston welcomes Danielle Belton, CPhT, a pharmacy technician with over two decades of experience in diverse healthcare settings. Danielle’s journey spans large hospitals, compounding pharmacies, and sterile IV rooms. Throughout the episode, Danielle shares valuable insights for technicians seeking to carve their paths. She emphasizes the power of networking with pharmacists and building mentorships to gain knowledge and propel career growth. Recognizing th...
May 29, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 80
Welcome to Episode 79 of CPhT Connect, the Podcast for Pharmacy Technicians! Join host Mike Johnston as he engages in an inspiring conversation with Josie Quick, an inventory specialist and senior pharmacy technician at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota. Josie shares her incredible journey into the pharmacy world, from starting as a pharmacy clerk recruited by a pharmacist impressed by her attention to detail to her current role overseeing inventory for both hospital and retail pharmacies. E...
May 15, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 79
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston interviews Jennifer Petska, CPhT, FAPC, the Chief of Staff and Chief Operations Officer at the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. Jennifer shares her unconventional journey into the pharmacy field, which began with a degree in biology and chemistry and led her to a career deeply rooted in the pharmacy compounding community since 1999. Throughout her career, Jennifer has emphasized the importance of networking and building relationships, skills ...
May 08, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 78
In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston talks with Kris Baron, CPhT-Adv, CSPT, an advanced pharmacy technician at the MD Anderson Cancer Center with over 27 years of experience in both retail and hospital pharmacy settings. Kris shares her unique story of becoming a pharmacy technician by accident and then mastering sterile compounding. Kris emphasizes the importance of continuous education and encourages pharmacy technicians to seek further training to align with their professional ...
May 01, 2024•29 min•Season 5Ep. 77
