The Radical Massage Therapist Podcast

"I wanted to feel that satisfaction that I got from massage in a way that you don't get when you're doing an office job" - Annie Milović ... Annie Milović considers herself Canadian even after 21 years of living in Edinburgh, Scotland. She works part-time as a massage therapist out of her home and works flexible hours as a civil servant for Scotland. She used to be a political adviser on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and it never occurred to her that she could be a massage therapist.  Annie loves learning and seeks out opportunities to learn which is how she discovered the benefits of giving a massage though she had always been getting them before.  She describes the way her work life is balanced between the little control she has at her office job and the complete control she has over her massage practice. We talk about the job satisfaction one gets from massage in a way that you don't get at an office job. How does her day differ in Scotland compared to Canada and how does the massage profession match up to Canadian trained RMTs?  She has even inspired a few of her co-workers to give their own interests a go and see that maybe it's not that scary after all.  I hope you enjoy this chat with Annie Milović! www.theradicalrmt.com

“Having individual modalities available, you can actually individualize the course of treatment.” - Marty Royal ... Marty Royal is a sports massage therapist practicing for 15 years in England and works with football clubs combining his hands-on time with complementary modalities such as compression therapy and cryotherapies. These modalities improve recovery time with athletes and help Marty be more efficient with his soft tissue and deep tissue therapy. He is a full-time firefighter and wants to transfer to more therapy time once he retires. I hope you enjoy this episode with Marty Royal. www.theradicalrmt.com

Technology is here for better or worse. Evidence-based practitioners will take an interest in measurement and technology.

"If you want to feel really good about yourself, then open your own business"- Emily Burns, RMT ... Emily started her career path in massage therapy after deciding that her undergrad and future in psychology would mostly be research-based when what she really wanted to do was work with people. She has recently transitioned from an independent contractor to working for herself in her own space and she loves that “[she] gets to do what [she] wants and nobody cares.” From her undergrad days she was interested in brain injuries, and head and neck trauma which is what she enjoys treating most in her practice. After she experienced her own concussion in 2016 and works on her own recovery, she has more tools and confidence to help her own clients who also have concussions. She is a wine nerd and is pursuing courses which may lead to a second career as a sommelier. Emily is teaching in the massage therapy program and wants her students to be good massage therapists, not just have a goal to pass the exams. ​We talk about negotiating as a woman, touch on applying minimalism when making a career decision and also how women gravitate towards caring professions and it seems expected that we should give more without compensation. I hope you tune in to this episode and enjoy learning more! www.theradicalrmt.com

"I think the best massage therapists are problem solvers" - Emily Burns, RMT ... Emily started her career path in massage therapy after deciding that her undergrad and future in psychology would mostly be research based when what she really wanted to do was work with people. She has recently transitioned from independent contractor to working for herself in her own space and she loves that “[she] gets to do what [she] wants and nobody cares.” From her undergrad days she was interested in brain injuries, and head and neck trauma which is what she enjoys treating most in her practice. After she experienced her own concussion in 2016 and works on her own recovery, she has more tools and confidence to help her own clients who also have concussions. She is a wine nerd and is pursuing courses which may lead to a second career as a sommelier. Emily is teaching in the massage therapy program and wants her students to be good massage therapists, not just have a goal to pass the exams. ​We talk about negotiating as a woman, touch on applying minimalism when making a career decision and also how women gravitate towards caring professions and it seems expected that we should give more without compensation. I hope you tune in to this episode and enjoy learning more! www.theradicalrmt.com

"I'm more let's get in the trenches and get our hands dirty and do the best job we can to get people's lives turned around!" - Scott Grisewood, RMT ... Scott Grisewood has been a Registered Massage Therapist since 1994. He was one of the first practitioners to introduce Shockwave Therapy in Canada and developed his own treatment approach using this new technology on his massage clients. Now, he travels around the world treating hundreds of professional and amateur athletes with his "portable human performance lab." This includes a few key pieces of equipment that give him precise assessment results that help in his treatments and it provides key information to the athlete, coach, and trainer. ​Scott owns Shockwave Therapy Centre in Barrie, Ontario, Canada and enjoys living close to his family which now includes some grandchildren. The technology that Scott uses is fascinating and I hope you enjoy hearing about it maybe for your own practice, or because you can help direct a patient/client to someone using this same technology to help them breakthrough an injury or to reach the next level in training. It is also a nice reminder of how fortunate we are as massage therapists to apply our knowledge and skills in ways that are outside the box.  Also, check out Part II of this episode where Scott covers more about the technologies and why we should embrace them as evidence based practitioners! www.theradicalrmt.com

"If a goal doesn't scare and excite you at the same time, then it's probably not worth doing and it's not an audacious goal" - Richard J Platt ... Richard J Platt is a retired massage therapist and clinical hypnotherapist. He is a published author and business success coach who currently lives in Vancouver BC. Welcome to 2020 friends! It is time to embark on your personal growth and development journey! Not sure how to get started? I am excited to introduce Richard who is passionate about helping massage therapists create audacious career goals and create a clearly defined plan to get there. In this episode, you will learn how it is easier than you may think to create the massage practice and lifestyle of your dreams. Check out this episode with Richard and please see his resources below to go even further! www.theradicalrmt.com

Nathan's Workday routine.  Why His library card was a worthwhile investment.  His advice to engage in learning beyond RMT related material and more... www.theradicalrmt.com

“I have this motto, that I don’t want to get to my grave and feel like I didn’t accomplish my dreams” - Livia Pellerin, RMT ... Livia is an RMT who works with the Rolf method and specifically helps CrossFit athletes improve their results with a combination of hands-on techniques and hands-on time teaching mobility Remex. She has a background as a professional dancer for 15 years, started massage therapy on the Quebec side, and then became an RMT in Ontario. In addition to her practice here in Ottawa, she offers online coaching. Please enjoy this conversation with Livia. www.theradicalrmt.com

“One of the best things about our scope (massage) is the optimization”- Nathan Walton, RMT ... Nathan has been an RMT since 2007. He is a husband and a father and he keeps busy while having fun with his massage practice, kettlebell training, fitness coaching, and teaching.  Nathan has completed over 60 obstacle course races since 2011. In the year 2017, he ran 22 races! In August of 2019 he participated in his 9th Tough Mudder and also volunteers at these events.  He has also participated in the Obstacle Course Race Championships 2017/2018 in his age category (40-44). He has great advice on the importance of balancing work with play and can apply the broader principles of skill across subjects whether it be as an RMT, a student, or in training. I really enjoyed my conversation with Nathan and I hope you do too! www.theradicalrmt.com