Healthy Wealthy & Smart 580: Dr. Drew Contreras: Executive Medicine in the White House
In this episode, Dr. Jenna Kantor talks with Dr. Drew Contreras about the rigors of working as a PT for the President of the United States.
More about Drew Contreras:
Drew Contreras, PT, DPT, SCS – received his Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University in 1998 and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008. He is board an APTA board certified Sports Clinical Specialist since 2003. His professional interests are sports medicine; manual therapy; blood flow restriction; bio-technology; musculoskeletal injury prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation as well as human performance optimization.
Serving over 20 years on active duty as a career military officer and practicing physical therapist within the US Army & Department of Defense, Drew has served in a number of settings and military units throughout his career before his retirement in 2020. He spent his early career at Ft Benning, GA and then moved on to Ft Bragg, NC. His skills were put to work extensively in 2006-2007 during a 15 month continuous deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was the first physical therapist to serve in sustained combat operations with the 82nd Airborne Division. After returning Drew moved to Washington DC to work at the Pentagon Health Clinic where he served as the Director of Wellness and Physical Therapy. During this time he served as a consultant to the White House Medical Unit and was then chosen as a by name selection by President Obama to serve as the first ever full time physical therapist at the White House. There he served as the Physical Therapist to the White House Medical Unit and President of the United States Barack Obama from 2010 until the end of the administration in 2017.
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Read The Full Transcript Here:
Welcome to the healthy, wealthy and smart podcast. Each week we interview the best and brightest in physical therapy, wellness and entrepreneurship. We give you cutting edge information you need to live your best life healthy, wealthy and smart. The information in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used as personalized medical advice. And now, here's your host, Dr. Karen Litzy.
00:35
Hey everyone, welcome back to the podcast. I am your host Karen Litzy. And today's episode is brought to you by Net Health. So when it comes to boosting your clinics, online visibility, reputation and referrals, net Hills Digital Marketing Solutions has the tools you need to beat the competition. They know you want your clinic to get found get chosen and definitely get those five star reviews on Google. They have a fun new offer if you sign up and complete a marketing audit to learn how digital marketing solutions can help your clinic when they will buy lunch for your office. If you're already using NET Health's private practice EMR, be sure to ask about his new integration, head over to net help.com forward slash li T zy to sign up for your complimentary marketing audit today. All right onto today's episode, Dr. Jenna Cantor is back and today she is interviewing Dr. Andrew contrary us he received his master of physical therapy from Gannon University in 1998 and his doctor physical therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008. He is board certified sports clinical specialist and has served over 20 years on active duty as a military officer and practicing physical therapist within the US Army and Department of Defense. He has served a number of settings and military units throughout his career before retiring in 2020. After retiring drew moved to Washington, DC to work at the Pentagon health clinic where he served as the director of wellness and physical therapy there. During this time, he served as a consultant to the White House medical unit and was then chosen as a by name selection by President Barack Obama to serve as a first ever full time physical therapists at the White House. There he served as the physical therapist to the White House medical unit and President of the United States, Barack Obama from 2010 till the end of the administration 2017. He has worked with a wide variety of government officials as well as police and law enforcement agencies. And today he's going to talk a little bit more about his experience. And it just goes to show you that there are so many options and so many settings that physical therapist can work in. So I think Drew and I think Jennifer great episode. Hello, this is Jenna canter so honored to be hosting this podcast for healthy, wealthy and smart. I am here with Dr. Drew Contreras who just said Just call me Drew. And I was like, Oh, that's so cool. So Drew or gesture is one you want to get his autograph when you know what he has done. This is the the physical therapist for Brock Obama and Michelle Obama. And then the current president and first lady, which is just not and as soon as I learned this, and then got to hear him speak at a conference. I was like, this is somebody that I am desperate and enamored, inspired by must feature on this podcast. And I approached him a complete stranger. At this conference, I sat right next to him dinner and as he didn't know me, and he said, Yes, this superstar said yes to doing this podcast. So Drew, thank you so much for agreeing to come on to this podcast. My pleasure. Right, like
03:54
it
03:55
is I appreciate the kind words thank you very much. Absolutely. And that's how I'm going to be approaching this this podcast as a young professional in the physical therapy industry that saying, How did you do this? How did you get to this point, and we're just talking about executive medicine here to really understand point a point B, I feel like from the conversations I've had with people outside this podcast, there isn't one way to eat a Reese's. It's not some clear pathway if you want to get this way you you're gonna fit in this box and it's very much like the performing industry. It's like there's no it's not one agent that's going to get you that movie. So we're here to just hear hear your story where where you got started and how that led to such a
04:43
prestigious and how honor what an honor, I have a position to get to do. Yeah, um, so I think that
04:55
I think that regardless of like what you're pursuing, right, whether
05:00
That's, you know, working in executive medicine or like you said, working with a performing arts group or, you know, working with a traveling band or a sports team or whatever, right, I think the thing that people
05:14
really de emphasize, which is the exact opposite of what should happen is, you need to be really, really good at what you do. Right, there needs to be no question that you are exceptional about what it is that you provide. And I think that people get lost in wanting the end state. And they, they don't go through the process properly. Right. So just just to be blunt, right? Like, if you've got, you know, 18 months of experience, you probably shouldn't be the person on the sidelines on a high contact sporting event, who's the only person that's available? Right, that's probably not the best plan. And likewise, right, like, you probably shouldn't be the sole healthcare provider on a plane someplace when like, you barely really know what you're doing it. So I think that people get confused with, in order to get to the end state, right, I need to go through these, like, I need to know somebody or I need to, I need to have a, like you said, there's a person who will get me there.
06:17
The only thing that will ever get you there is is being exceptional what you do, right? Because when you start talking about things, especially like executive medicine, you have to realize that the people that make it to this point or this level up are exceptional at what they do, right. And they have made a living off of calling people out on the BS card. Right? Like, they know when you are not exceptional at what you do, because they they've seen it for so long. So if you're not at least there, right, if you haven't found your, your, your apex of your skill set, it's not a place you want to be. Right. So first get there, right, get really, really good at what you do. And then if that's if you've made it to that point, opportunities will unfold themselves, right? If you're prepared if you're really good at what you do. So I think that's the best thing I can say to people is, like you said, there's no, there's no cookie cutter path to getting into this, as there shouldn't be right, because it's certainly not for everybody.
07:23
Yeah, I think that's really well said, and I want to tap on the assessment of what it means to be good at what you do. And this is my opinion, but I'm going to put it in here. And then I would love your thoughts. But don't base your success off of other PTS opinions based off of other patients opinions.
07:47
I think we really mix that up. I think we really do. And it's just not everyone. What are the patients saying? What is your success rate? There are the ones that if they do get do they come back to get I would base it off that I think we worry too much about what our
08:02
comrades that's the word that's in my head right now are thinking. I think you're absolutely right. Right. Like if
08:11
I think there's a difference between
08:15
external validation, right, which is kind of what people say about you. And that can be rewarding, right. It can also be incredibly destructive, but but it can be rewarding for some people. And that's different than than defining
08:31
a level of expertise or level of success. Right. That should be pretty objective. You should be able to measure that with clinical outcomes. You mean, like you said, even just sheer recommendations and referrals from existing patient? Right, or sources? Right. That's it. That's a better
08:51
litmus test than who said, what about you on Twitter? Yes, yes, yes. Or if you're, if you're there a different way. So what about you or say you go to a conference like CSM, and everybody has been in this industry for certain periods of time. And when we create relationships with people, the ones where we are really more connected to we just generally bond with just like our friends in life outside of the business? Are even if they're not, you're not friends with the right people. It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything. I have a friend who just got on Broadway, she had zero friends who are on board, you know, like, she wasn't like, let me see of friends on Broadway, but not like close, close. You know, I just I think we can get stuck in that. Like, I'm associated with them. So therefore, like I can't, in the, like I said the reality is, even if that association gets you a conversation or a phone call, right? It won't sustain you for very long. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. What is the schedule and
10:00
Life, like in regards to when you're doing such a high profile job? Yeah, you know, I bet
10:12
I think I would average it out to people would call me get a hold of me at least two or three times a month and say like, they wanted to be the White House physical therapist, and I finally got it down to like, okay, um, that's, that's great that you're interested, I need to know, if you're okay with this, you will not have any vacation days throughout the year zero, you can never buy a ticket. That's non refundable to anything, you must be okay, giving up attending any sort of family event, kids sporting games, whatever it may be.
10:47
In the event that you actually do get to go on vacation somewhere, you must be okay with it, they call you you have to leave immediately and come back. If you're okay, with these basic things, we can have a conversation, right? And most people immediately are like, well, that's not what I wanted. I just wanted to fly on a jet. You know, and, you know, have people think that I'm, you know, in this prestigious environment, like
11:11
all these things come in a price, right? It's, it's not, it's not an easy price, right? I will forever
11:19
hold Brock Obama responsible for the fact that we both started there with black hair, and ended up with gray hair.
11:28
super stressful environment, it's long hours, it's unpredictable at times. chaotic, and it's just not an easy place to to exist in, if you aren't already comfortable in your own skin, right? So to basically understand is that
11:47
your professionalism has to supersede what your personal goals are, or your personal life is if you're going to be successful in that environment. And that's just the level of dedication that it takes. When you say professionalism. Would you mind defining that? Because professional means of a profession? And so that can be very vague. Yeah, I think that it means right.
12:12
I think that it means that you need to be willing to put forward
12:19
your best on any day in any place, and do the best you can for those patients, or those people that you're serving. And it's really, you know, kind of a, a selfless service attitude that would make you successful. And that's what I mean by professionalism. Right? It has to come first, right? It doesn't matter if you had, you know, plans to do a thing, or you were supposed to be going out to dinner with your spouse or whatever, right? Like, that's the level of professionalism that's expected. Absolutely. I like thank you so much for that. I was thinking it was singing, it actually really reminded me of swings on Broadway, they have a very similar situation, except they're not the main person, but they have to be available at a moment's notice. So just like and during the Christmas breaks that the leads or the ensembles take, they're the ones that jump in, and if anything comes up, they're the ones that are, I mean, if I want to say somebody who truly has probably the least brake, in the run of a Broadway show, it's the swings. So that's it. That's just where my brain went. because theater is my background theater is my sport, my sport. Absolutely. So I like that. That's so interesting. And, and I think it's always good to know the full picture of what it means to do something. I'm going to compare it to Broadway and musical theater because that's what I know. It reminds me when including myself when you first graduate school and you're a performer, singer, actor, dancer, you're like, oh, I want to make it on Broadway. However the schedule on Broadway, it's six days a week, one day off, the main holidays you are going to be performing that's when you have the most people attending. You're going to miss on so many things that go on in your life for being dedicated to the Broadway show. So knowing that you're going to miss so much of life not just a little like a lot like your nephew's events, whatever you're going to miss everything. And in in your downtime the days that you have one show your whole day is revolved subconscious or consciously around putting on your best performance that night so you have to be careful with your energy everything because that is there that is your main job that's your main go to so it it really does sound so reminiscent of that you got to have a passion for it as much I do think there's a little bit more selfish and that's okay to be selfish. It will regarding performing because you are a person who loves applause loves that stage and everything you are of course giving I would say it's like
15:00
5050 But I do think it would be different compared to the physical therapy job that you're doing. Because the only reason why and we discussed this before, the only reason why we can even say your name in association with a be with these people is because they have publicly said your name, you know, and that's that's an end. But if you didn't have that we would not that's that would we would be doing all this other words to go around it appropriately, you wouldn't talk about in the reality of it is
15:33
another, I was doing something else. And somebody asked me, they were like, What would you consider one of the biggest achievements that you've done professionally? And I would say that
15:44
until after 2017. Right? Nobody knew who I was and what I was doing. Right. And that was that was my goal, right was that nobody knew that. I was a White House physical therapist, nobody knew who I was where I was at the things I was doing, because that was the job. Right? The job wasn't to be. It's not it's not the world's business. Right. Right. And then so, and I think that that's fair. Right. I think then that and I think that that's really important. And then so like you said, you kind of have to understand that like,
16:16
the people who are concerned with the trappings, right with, like, what do I get out of it? Right, will be severely disappointed. And executive medicine, because that should never be what it's about. Right? It should never be about what are you getting out of it? Because if that's the case, you know, you won't be doing it for very long, right? There's, there's a saying in the in the Gulf PT community is, you know, if you want to be around a long time, you don't want to be around all the time. Right. And basically, what that means is like, you should not be trying to be, you know, the inner circle person. Right? You shouldn't try to be the best friend of these, these high profile individuals, if your goal is to, you know, be of service and do your job for a long time. Because you because that's just not the way it works. Right. So that's just kind of a reference point that I, I found, just like you said, very similar to performing arts, right. It's just kind of there's there's parallels and all these different sub communities. I mean, it really goes back to just loving truly loving what you do, and it's okay, if you don't, it's okay. Not every job, or every specific thing is meant for everyone. That's why we have so many different options and more options keep popping up after the pandemic now.
17:34
Yeah, you have to love what you do. You have to love what you do. See, I love being the center of attention, because I'm a performer and a physical therapist. So I know, right off the bat, that couldn't be for me, because for me not to be able to be like them. And the way that I was in like, doing a whole photo shoot there trying out different heels for the photoshoots. All that stuff. Like that would be the I would be the worst person because I'd be mourning getting to do that. It's so right. So there's always the question, people would ask, like, Oh, can you do this there? Or can you do that? Or can you do this? And the answer is always you can do whatever you want on your last day. You want today to be your last day. Feel free to do that. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's HIPAA compliance. I mean, that's the biggest thing. It's a HIPAA compliance. And then we have people they're just taking care of the United States.
18:29
That's such a high level. It's such high level, you know, I mean, wow, wow.
18:35
I was wondering for you, because it's this level of executive medicine is very
18:45
high profile. There's a lot going on there. I'm not asking for details behind the scenes. That's none of our business. But I'm, I'm curious about how it affected your stress levels and your anxiety while there and how you manage that during that time to make sure you were able to be fully present and helpful, even though it may have kind of fallen on your shoulders a little bit. And on that note, we'll take a quick break to hear from our sponsor and be right back with Drew's response
19:17
when it comes to boosting your clinics, online visibility, reputation and increasing referrals, net Health's Digital Marketing Solutions has the tools you need to beat the competition. They know you want your clinic to get found, get chosen and definitely get those five star reviews on Google. Net Health is a fun new offer if you sign up and complete a marketing audit to learn how digital marketing solutions can help your clinic when they will buy lunch for your office. If you're already using Net Health private practice EMR, be sure to ask about this new integration. Head over to net health.com forward slash li tz y to sign up for your complimentary marketing audit.
19:53
You know the best way
19:58
to kind of describe that
20:00
Is is, I think that it's important to surround yourself with, with people that are understanding of your situation, right? Because because
20:13
it's inevitable that you will have conflicts or that you'll have to back out of things, right. And if people don't understand your situation and the level of service and dedication you have, they just think you're selfish, right? So like the, I'm sorry, I know, I said, I was gonna come to your barbecue, but I just can't, I can't make it now. And, and I need you to be okay with that, and may not provide you an explanation of why. Right? And that's a hard thing, right? And you will find out pretty quickly, like, who, who's accepting of you and who's not? Right, because because most people will just stop inviting you to things right? Or they'll just, they'll just cut you out of their life. And there's some degree rightfully so. Right.
20:52
So I think it's just important to make sure that you surround yourself with that. And if you're a person with the family, right, like, this has to be an honest conversation that you have upfront.
21:02
This is not something that you kind of tiptoe around or like, make it up to you. Like, you'll be saying that forever, you'll never make it up, right? It just needs to be an acceptance of like this is this is part of what's acceptable.
21:17
And that's not like you said, That's not for everybody, right? It's absolutely not for everybody. So I just think that in order to be able to perform at a sustained sustainable level, right, for a duration, not just like,
21:31
once, or like, twice, right, but to continue to do that, you have to accept that. So I will. Another thing that comes to mind is, I once saw an interview with Michael Jordan, who is, you know, arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time, regardless of what you think. Right? And Michael Jordan was interviewed and, and, and he said, you know, what's, what's it, what's difficult about it, and he said, you know, people who want to be Michael Jordan for a day or a game, you know, like, of course, I'd love to be Michael Jordan for a day or a game. But being me for a season, right? Or for a year, or for a couple of years of a championship run year after year after year, right? The commitment and sustainment that that requires, like, people don't want to do that. Right. And that's what I would say to people to like, it's super cool to work at the White House for a day for a weekend. Right, right. But do it for do it for a year, or an administration. Right? Or be stupid enough to come back and do it again. If somebody asks you, right, like, that's, that's a whole different level. Right? So it's super exciting. You know, it's interesting for for a weekend or a day or whatever, but like, but long term, right? Like, it's a commitment. Yeah, that makes me think of certain roles. I'm always going to bring it back to theater because that's my brain. It makes me think of Elphaba in in Wicked or Vita in Aveda, where Aida and Aida where they are literally doing like vocal aerobics, they don't stop singing. So when they are outside of the show, from
23:09
what I've learned, and especially if you're talking about a Broadway one, so they are doing what is it seven to eight shows a week, they get the one day off, they are not talking much outside of that show. If you want to reserve like or if they do they know what they can and cannot handle. Because the amount of singing. Elphaba I've learned is such a difficult track because of how you're, you're going from one part even if you're not in a scene for a moment you're rushing doing a costume change it's it's a very non stop role. So if you are looking to lose weight, no,
23:47
no but it so it just makes me think of that, you know, different things can cut you out of living your life, which is why I've always said I would love to do Elphaba at a regional theater for three weeks.
24:03
done done like like he's like Michael Jordan said for temporary. I think it's so good to take in this perspective and take things in as a whole. We were talking when we met the group was discussing how really understanding in this is a bigger picture thing but really understanding what physical therapy is before you even decide to join the profession as a big deal that needs to be much more transparent. And we can sit there and see all these shiny other things like oh, I want to trade for Broadway or I want to do executive medicine or oh, I want to work for this sports team. But really asking yourself all the tough questions on what goes into that? Well, I mean, if you're talking about money, great, but like, Have you ever had money and then like how fast did that money go? Did it really make you happy? So many so many things on that.
24:52
But
24:53
the details of the job will that will you enjoy that? That's your life. You're going to spend the majority of your time on the job not
25:00
off the job. So you got to make sure it's something that you like and really do your due do your due diligence in that. But I think it can be very difficult to give and provide the full picture to for anything. I don't know, I don't really know, have a clear way to make it clear.
25:20
I think that
25:23
I think that like part of that, I think is our own fault is PTS, right? I think that the general public struggles to understand what we do as a whole, right? It's, it's easy to do it in in subsets. Like it's easy to understand. Okay, well, I was on crutches. And I had a cast, and then I had to see a PT because my ankle was broke, right? Or the, you know,
25:52
mom had a stroke. She's in rehab, she sees a PT every day, so she can get better and come home. But the hard thing is like,
26:03
the professions bigger than that, right? It's, it's more and we've overcomplicated it instead of really kind of simplifying it down. Because the reality is right. What do PTS do? Well, we help people do whatever it is they want to do. And we get them back to or allow them to do the things that they want to do.
26:24
And that's it, that that's the that's the big selling point of it is, if you're not interested in doing that, I'm, like you said just about every day of your life, this is not the right profession for you. Right? Like, if you thought that, well, I would, I will have a very nice car, and I will have these set hours and I will you know be able to do these things like you're going to be miserable hate because I think that people didn't get into the profession for the wrong reasons, just like any job. When eventually, right? It will be taxing to you. And if you're not down with whoever that person is, it's you're talking to and working with, if you're not okay with, I'm here to get you to where you want to be. So that whatever that thing is, whether that's walking your kid down the aisle at a wedding, whether that's going on a hike, again, whether it's walking the dog, right or like putting your shirt on by yourself, right, whatever those things are. Now in a handstand, of course,
27:26
like if you're not okay doing that,
27:29
we're never going to be happy with with what PT does, right? So I think that that's the thing that people need to kind of understand if I wish, if I had anything to say to anybody who's listening who's like thinking about it, think about that. Are you okay with doing that, that be your role in life? And if that is not appeal to you, you need to find something else. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. It really is a
27:55
job board, you're of service, but you have to love being of service in this manner. Like if it doesn't feed your soul, like then how, like no money can ever pay you enough. It's never never enough. It'll never be enough. And that's okay. That's okay. It's I take like, exactly, you got to figure out what you love. I feel pretty lucky. Because I went into school, dreading that I was going to school and I felt like public embarrassment in the musical theater world because I entered school as a quitter. Because that's what it looks like, like, I'm leaving my profession. And so I had people offering me get professional gigs while I was in my first year of school. And I was embarrassed. Meanwhile, other people were posting and going, Oh, I started up in school, because it was a prestigious school and everything. And I was like, quiet for the first at least a year, if not more about what where I was.
28:52
I mean, it's all perspective. But then I learned I got a sometimes don't just take that one experience. And for me, I had that which was beautiful, seeing how it can change people. And yeah, yeah, but if that doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. I love that. Yeah, so for you. In executive medicine, I don't know if you know, the data on this. I don't even know if it exists. But is there kind of an average of how, how long medical professionals usually stay within executive medicine? Or is there kind of like, usually it's about five or 10 years or something just because it is such a commitment and you're talking about family and all these things. Just wondering, I think that there's a there's a there's it is a
29:38
Oh, I think there's a short hump and a long term home. I don't think there's a lot of people in the middle. Oh, interesting. Yeah. I think that if most I would probably say two thirds right. It's a short
29:55
I don't know. I'm guessing you know, five to seven year experience, right? The people
30:00
Do that short. Yep. And then
30:04
yes, yes. I think there's nobody that's kind of in that like seven to 15. Year. And then I think you get another the the last third is in the 15. year plus right. So wow, a career choice, or have made that shift for whatever reason. In that direction. I think they kind of stay there.
30:28
But I don't think it's, yeah, yeah. I don't think it's a mid career thing. It's either a stop along the way, or eventually it becomes your, your pathway. The business side, I have a real dorky question here. It's not dorky. And because there are people who be curious, I'm curious about documentation. For some reason, I feel like it's gonna be theirs. Let's compare to a Rite Aid receipt versus a CVS receipt. I feel like it's probably a CVS receipt, am I wrong?
30:59
Here's what I would say. Right?
31:03
If you treat everybody the same, and document the same, you're always okay. That's it. Right? In, that's where you have to be, again, like you got to be good at what you do. And you got to be very comfortable with that, right? Because
31:18
you people, you'll be second guessed right, there will be consultations with other providers. That's just the nature of executive medicine, right. And so you need to be okay with what you're doing. And documentation is part of that, right, making sure that you're you're very clear about your plan of care and the things that you're doing and why you're doing them.
31:37
But if you, you know, if you do it the same, it doesn't matter, right? It's universal precautions, right? If you if you do it the same no matter what you're good to go. So that that'd be my two cents on that. And then we also think it might differentiate and regarding plan of care, because we're talking about exercise adherence, which is something that physical therapists are was talking about, it's one of my biggest passions is getting exercise. And it's so great when it works.
32:03
For your patients in general, that have a high anxiety life, lack of sleep life, how do you achieve that adherence in a realistic way to get results? Does that make sense? I'm trying to generalize, even though every patients different, but this is we're talking about a very specific level of high stress. Right? I think that you have to understand that when you're working in this kind of subset, the biggest commodity for people, their biggest asset, the thing that is the most valuable to them is time, time is their most valuable asset, right? It's not money, it's not, you know, I have stuff do I have, you know, it's not the resources of equipment, or what, like, it's time, their time is very valuable.
32:55
And you have to, you have to be a good steward of that, right? You have to respect that. And so you have to,
33:04
you're not going to give somebody you know, a printout with 15 exercises, that's going to take an hour and a half for them to do and tell them to do it three times a day, right? Like, this is not how this how it's gonna work. Right. So I think that if you understand that concept, in build your plan around that about what is the most effective thing I can do with you, or this amount of time, which is limited, and then you have to understand that that's, it's finite, right? There's not It's not unlimited, that there's a million priorities that are trying to take that time. And if you are, are good about using it and understand that it's a limited resource, then they'll appreciate it.
33:49
I just realize you have unusual, wonderful access to collaboration over there. And I started to think about food. Could I mean, you could No, here's, here's No, there's a purpose, because digestion, if their digestion is off, that actually can have a big effect on their healing process. Have you had opportunities to collaborate with the the shatter? That is so cool. Oh, that is like the best. Right? And again, right, like you, you have to get the most value out of the things that you can write. And it's really interesting in this world is that like, it's, it's usually a matter of making sure that you know, that people are meeting the caloric minimum, right that there because again, they're so busy, or figuring out what is the more effective way of doing this or how can we provide the requirements despite a busy travel schedule, right, or all the other you know, things that are demanding and then right and then also right, like, yeah, work with chefs nutritionist. Work with other
35:00
With personal trainers, massage therapists, you know, other health care providers like you just so cool. Like you're part of the bigger picture.
35:11
If you're there for that it'll work itself out. Yeah, it sounds like I mean, I'm sure there are discussions that have to happen. But it sounds like the dream collaboration because you have access to literally everybody in the picture that you would want to be present in the picture there. That is just so cool.
35:28
Like, Oh, yes. Oh, God, if I said that to any of my performers, hey, can you connect me with your, your nutritionist or your chef, so I can work? And be like, Are you kidding? Get out of here.
35:40
But wow, that's that's really, really cool. That's, that's getting the opportunity for next level. Next level stuff. Um, I was wondering if you have any fun memories from your first day on the job without getting specific about the individual, but just any? Yeah. So. So the very first day,
36:04
you know, I'm working with President Obama, right. It's a
36:09
White House is an interesting place, because
36:13
there's the work areas, there's were offices and whatnot. But then there's also an area called the residence, and that's where the family lives. And it's off limits to the staff, like people don't, nobody goes into the residents. That's their home. Right. So I was going to see the President and
36:33
in order that we were going up through to the president, so we get into their private elevator, right. And it was, you know, people that Oh, my God, he's getting in the elevator with them. And I didn't know any better, right? So I just, I just introduced myself to him. He's like, okay, hey, come with me. We're gonna go on the elevator and go upstairs. And, you know, I'll get changed up and then we'll go start work. I was like, Okay, great. So I come in the elevator, and he's like, you know, Hey, man.
36:58
What part of the island are you from? And I was like, I'm sorry. He's like, You. You're from Hawaii right? Now, in context. He's Hawaiian. Right? And people probably can't see me, right. But, you know, I'm absolutely a Pacific Islander. And I said, Actually, man, I'm from Cleveland. And he was like, wait, what? I said, Yeah, I'm, I'm from Cleveland. He's like Cleveland. And this was big, right at the time, where LeBron James had just left Cleveland to go to Miami. And if anybody knows anything about Obama, he's quite the basketball fan. So he turns to me and says, Cleveland, ah, that's too bad about LeBron. Like, without, like, I just met this man. Like, and, and so like, you know, growing up in Cleveland, like, I immediately got defensive. And I was like, well, that's too bad that Chicago sucks and everything. Right? So like, immediately, like, and then I was like, oh, oh, I'll be shooting that right. Like, but like he put, I just was completely caught off guard and put me on my heels. And I got defensive about clean. He was like, looked at me, and was like, we're gonna be okay, like, we're gonna get along. All right, right. So that's great. Then people always ask, like, What are you talking about? What you know, what things and things I would tell people is, like, we talked about three things for the majority of our entire interactions, sports, weather, and kid. Those are the three topics that we could talk about, if the conversation ever went somewhere else, right? My answer was usually, like, there's probably somebody who could talk about that, but it's not me. But you mean, referred to. And I think the weather is going to be crappy today, right? Like, and I kind of focused on that right to make sure that I was doing my job, right. And those topics we kind of came to through through just general conversations, these topics are safe and easy for us to talk about, and allowed him to be a patient and allowed me to be a clinician. Yeah, because if you want into anything else, Woof woof. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, too much. That's really cool. I like I like how you found a way to be sensitive and helpful with that sensitivity, you know, to give a human a break.
39:20
For real Oh, that's so magnificent. I think this is perfect. We're going to end here thank you so much for coming on. I'm not sure if there is is there a way for people to reach out to you and contact you if they wanted to? I don't know somehow connecting you can probably the easiest way for the general audience is just find me on on social media. Right? You can find me on Twitter, you see on Twitter. Yeah. DC underscore PTS easy to find me. You know, and eventually I'll, I'll look at it and get back to people but that's probably the easiest way for Pete for this audience to get a hold of me if somebody you know, is interested or just wants to you know,
40:00
Here's something else let me know. Thank you so much for coming on and looking forward to people. Hearing this interview I have learned so much and grown so much and honestly just left very, very inspired. Thank you so much drew for coming on. Thank you. A big thank you to Jenna and drew for a wonderful interview. And of course, thanks to Net Health for sponsoring so again they have a new offer if you sign up and complete a marketing audit to learn how digital marketing solutions can help your clinic when they will buy lunch for your office. Head over to net help.com forward slash li tz y to sign up for your complimentary marketing audit so you can boost your clinics online visibility, reputation and referrals. Thank you for listening and please subscribe to the podcast at podcast dot healthy wealthy smart.com And don't forget to follow us on social media